Is A Polyamorous Relationship Right For You?

The fluid nature of polyamory can explain why the concept seems so confusing to those who don't practice it. Polyamorous relationships are not open relationships. That's because, as the Independent noted, polyamory isn't really just about sex, while an open relationship is all about having sexual encounters that don't become relationships. Neither concept should also confused with polygamy, which is more tied to religion and the patriarchy, and usually has to do with a man having several wives (via Women's Health).

The key condition of a polyamorous relationship is that the partners involved have talked the whole thing through. "Thoughtful polyamorous relationships often come with rules and agreements ironed out early on," Lundquist told Women's Health. He suggested that couples talk about how they both feel about this potential development, if polyamory is something they both want, why they are motivated to go into this type of relationship, how secure their relationship is, whether there are rules they want the other to follow, and whether this time might influence the future of their relationship.

Both sides also need to be fully aware of unintended consequences, of which jealousy plays the biggest part. "This is the most obvious question but also the most important and the hardest to answer," Lundquist stated. "Even when a given partner doesn't want to be jealous or possessive, monogamy is so heavily ingrained in our culture some people just can't get there."