Having multiple partners does not compromise sexual health, large study finds

A recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships has found that engaging in multiple romantic or sexual relationships does not compromise sexual health. The research, led by Michelle Larva-Ruhala, compared sexual functioning, satisfaction, and health outcomes among individuals in consensual non-monogamous relationships, such as polyamory or swinging, to those in strictly monogamous relationships.

The study, which analyzed two large datasets, found that people in non-monogamous relationships reported sexual functioning, satisfaction, and health outcomes that were comparable to, and in some cases slightly better than, those of people in monogamous relationships. The researchers aimed to address two gaps in previous research: the similarity between consensual non-monogamous relationships and monogamous relationships in terms of relationship quality and sexual satisfaction, and the potential "spillover effects" of having multiple partners on sexual wellbeing.

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