Open Relationship: What Does it Mean & What Are the Rules?

Sexual relationships come in all different types. Some romantic relationships are blissful and last forever, and other monogamous relationships … not so much.

If you’ve been asking yourself “Is an open relationship right for me?” then guess what? You’re already headed in the wrong direction. Why? Because you need to be asking “Is an open relationship right for us,” not just for yourself. 

This is true whether you are already in a committed relationship, if you are considering opening your current one, or if you are single but will only enter into a relationship if it’s open.

When it comes to establishing a healthy, open and strong relationship, trust and clear communication are paramount, just as they are in a committed monogamous relationship. 

That’s because an open relationship is not the same thing as swinging; there, it’s really all about sex had outside the of your primary partnership, just about the physical act and the physical relationship, in other words. No matter your sexual orientation, open relationships imply more connection between those other sexual partners, and quite likely involve many repeat encounters.

And an open relationship is not the same as polyamory, either: that term implies being in more than one sexual and emotional relationship at the same time, but with those commitments closed to any further romantic partners beyond the distinct relationships.

Two things need to be made clear before we go deeper here: consensual, nonmonogamous relationships are not for everyone, and in fact they’re probably not right for most people. Many folks have heard the rumours about the consensual non monogamy of Will Smith and Jada, and began thinking about what kind of negative feelings could arise in their own lives if they were to follow a similar path.

It needs to be established that there is nothing wrong with an open relationship - provided it works for all parties. Sure, they may be uncommon and even frowned upon by some people, but those people have an easy solution to their displeasure with the arrangement: don’t have an open relationship. 

What are open relationships, anyway?

The term “open relationship” can really have multiple meanings, human behavior and thinking being as varied as it is. In broad terms that can be applied to most successful open relationships, it is defined as an established agreement between two adults to maintain a committed emotional and romantic relationship, but to allow for sexual contact outside the bounds of monogamy.

What is an open relationship, anyway?

The term “open relationship” can really have multiple meanings, human behavior and thinking being as varied as it is, but in broad strokes terms that can be applied to most successful open relationships, it can be defined as an established agreement between two adults to maintain a committed emotional and romantic relationship but to allow for sexual contact outside the bounds of monogamy.

In other words, in an open relationship, you can have sex with more than one person, but you only have one partner. Having more than one partner harkens back to polyamory, mentioned earlier.

What an open relationship isn’t

Perhaps the best way to gain a fuller understanding of what constitutes a functional open relationship is to highlight a few things that are decidedly not part of one. 

As noted, an open relationship is not the same as swinging, as swinging is all about the active pursuit of sex with other partners, whereas an open relationship simply allows for it when situations merit. And we have covered polyamory as well.

Most open relationships are not permanent. That is not to say that your relationship with your partner necessarily needs to end at some point, but it does mean that the open phase of the relationship will likely come to a close, whether by changes brought on by living arrangements, the advent of children, or simply the ever shifting needs and desires of two human beings.

Most importantly, though, an open relationship is never a secret; that’s simply called cheating and hints more toward issues of a narcissistic relationship than an open one that will work. If both partners are not 100% on board and on the same page, then the open relationship will not work.

Who might an open relationship be right for

There is no one-size-fits all answer as to the question of for whom open relationships will be a fit and for whom they won’t. As you start to explore the possibility of trying one, there are a few factors to consider.

Bisexuality

First, an open relationship can be a great way for as bisexual person to remain in emotional and romantic partnership with one person (be they a same sex or opposite gender individual) while allowing themselves to seek needed satisfaction with the other gender, as well. 

This works when both partners are bi, or it can work when the strictly heterosexual person has sexual contact with other members of the opposite sex.

Long distance

Open relationships are also a good way to keep a long-distance relationship intact, especially when both partners will be ready to close it again when they can again be in proximity. 

For while the old adage about absence making the heart grow fonder is true, that absence usually refers to days, weeks, or at most months, not to an effectively indefinite arrangement. 

An open long-distance relationship can help ensure each person is physically satisfied, thus does not secretly stray or simply end the relationship, while also helping maintain the emotional and romantic bonds that established the relationship in the first place.

Emotional (but not physically) compatible

And finally, it’s entirely possible for two people to be emotionally compatible, to deeply care for one another and to “get” their partner, but to simply not be all that sexually compatible, or at least not sufficiently so. 

In these cases, an open relationship can help sex not be the stumbling block over which the relationship trips and falls because the physical needs can be met outside the bounds of the committed partnership. 

This can be of the utmost importance when one partner is asexual but not jealous, or when one partner has a sexual kink not shared by the other party, yet understood and accepted.

The wrong time to try an open relationship: when a primary relationship is on the rocks

If your relationship is on the rocks, do not, repeat, do not turn to an open relationship to correct your course back to smooth sailing – that will only speed the sinking of the ship, to extend the nautical metaphor.

You need to have a solid foundation under any relationship that is going to go open, and that means first addressing and solving, as much as possible, the issues that you and your partner currently face. 

Patch things up, then open them up, if you both want to, but don’t open up and think things will heal, because anyway or, worse still, because of it – they won’t.

Know your partner

There is also never going to be a good time to try for an open relationship if you know your partner will not be comfortable with and happy about the relationship. 

Whether it has been discussed in the past and soundly rejected or if you simply know your partner well enough to know that he or she would hate the idea, it’s not fair to ask about an open relationship – all that will do is create feelings of inadequacy, confusion, and mistrust, and with nothing having been gained. 

If you want an open relationship yet are in a partnership with someone who never will, you have but two options: give up on having an open relationship agreement, or else break up with your partner as kindly and respectfully as you can.

The other person who needs to know about your open relationship status

So you and your partner have talked it all through, you have asked dozens of meaningful couple questions, you understand each other’s personal data and emotional boundaries, the physical boundaries you require, and you are on the same page as far as short and long-term relationship goals? 

Then if you are aligned on all fronts, then go ahead with opening your relationship.

Honesty is important

Just make sure that you are as open about your open relationship with any new potential sexual partner as you were in your primary relationship. Even if it is likely to be just a one-time encounter, you owe it to someone with whom you will (or may) become physically intimate to tell them about the arrangement, and all the more so if it’s likely to be a repeated liaison. 

Some people, after all, may not be OK with your approach to open relationships, and they have the right to know and to opt out, and before they develop any sort of attachment to you. In other words, as in any relationship, honesty counts, while stringing along is wrong. 

Another thing to consider instead of and open relationship: a monogamous relationship upgrade

If your issue is a frustration with a lack of sexual satisfaction or constraint by your perception of your partner’s perceived sexual boundaries, the solution may not be to go off and have sex with other people via open relationship, but rather to be more open in your existing relationship. 

More often than not, if you express a desire for new types of sexual behavior and an interest in trying new sexual activities, provided you are in a generally healthy relationship, your partner will be amenable to trying new things with you.

In fact, it quite often happens that the other party in the relationship also wants to try new things in the bedroom (or wherever works for you two) and that you will end up on the same page, sexually speaking, whereas bringing up the idea of a non-monogamous relationship may have ruined the committed relationship in which you were already living.

In other words, if you are thinking about an open relationship simple because you want more sex or different sex, first ask your partner in your monogamous relationship for more and different sex.

So, should you try for an open relationship?

As in auto repair, so too in love and sex: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” An open relationship is not something to enter into casually and without a serious think-through of the potential complications and ramifications, which may include the destruction of a relationship that could otherwise have long endured. On the other hand, it may save the partnership.

Even if you never thought you were the kind of person who could be in an open relationship, compare the arrangement to friendship. You can have multiple close friends, can’t you? And while often you will be the closest to one person or to a very small circle, the more casual friendships beyond the inner core do not detract from those tight bonds.

An open relationship can work much like that, with the core relationship always the closest, most meaningful, and a sanctum of trust and communication, with a few other relationships also pleasant and fun, but not a threat to the center. Life is a strange journey, and this might work!