The older you get, the more work relationships seem to take, right? I suppose it's a combination of things like children, jobs, social lives, that culminate to make having a healthy relationship something to work for and maintain. And do I even have to mention sex? I mean, sure sex is a huge part of a relationship, but I feel like sex with your SO can feel like an entirely separate relationship. And fostering a healthy sexual relationship with your partner is another job to add to your list.
Fortunately, like having a healthy relationship, it doesn't have to be hard to keep both your sexual and emotional relationships healthy and thriving. When you're with the right person, the work seems to come naturally and, what's more, you're willing and eager to do it. Whether you're working, raising a family, or doing both, sex often falls to the bottom of our priority list. Or, worse, it becomes stagnant after a couple is in a long-term relationship and feels more like a chore than an act of love. But a healthy, sexual relationship doesn't just depend on the frequency or type of sex — it's so much more than that. We are constantly teaching teenagers that sex is about intimacy and trust. Why do we forget that when we're adults and cultivating a healthy, sexual relationship? It goes beyond keeping an orgasm tally or trying to spice up our sex lives with a new toy that promises to bring you and your partner closer together.
So how do you know if your sexual relationship is healthy? Here are 11 ways to know you and your partner have a healthy sexual relationship, and if you find that you can't relate to any of them, it might be time to start talking to your SO. It's about more than just an orgasm — sex is an emotional process, too. You deserve to have it as good for you, and your partner, as possible.