Why open relationships don't work

If you’ve been feeling a little cramped in your monogamous relationship, it isn’t a sign your romance is doomed—maybe it’s just time to expand your definition of it.

While monogamy works for many people, just because another arrangement deviates from the "norm" doesn’t mean it’s not of equal value (as long as that arrangement involves consenting adults, of course). Plenty of couples not only want, but thrive in open relationships.

Consensual non-monogamy—which, FYI, is a sliding scale and can look different for different people—has become less taboo, more widely discussed, and continues to grow in popularity.

What is an open relationship

In fact, nearly a quarter (25 percent) of Americans report interest in having an open relationship, according to a 2021 YouGov poll that surveyed a whopping 23,000 people. And it’s not just a case of curiosity or the result of a stale sex life, either: When it comes to open relationships, there are almost as many benefits as there are misconceptions.

(Read: Alot.)

For starters, non-mo

is it wrong to want an open relationship

is it bad to be in an open relationship