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What does he think of you, based on the number of sexual partners you've had in your life?

When are there too many sexual partners?!

spolnih partnerjev
Photo: Pexels / Ba Tik

In the love and sex lives of individuals, the number of previous sexual partners is often a subject of interest and conversation. With different social norms and personal preferences, the ideal number of sexual partners varies from person to person. But what does research say about how the number of sexual partners we have affects our relationships and attraction? Social expectations and personal perception play a key role in shaping our opinions about what the "right" number of sexual partners is. Recent research reveals different perspectives on this topic, offering interesting insights into how the number of sexual partners affects our relationships.

Various studiese show different results regarding the ideal number of sexual partners. According to one survey American male and women believe that the ideal number of sexual partners is 7.6 and 7.5, respectively, while another survey claims that the ideal number is 13 partners. In another study she conducted Psychology Today, the "ideal" number of sexual partners was found to be 7.5, with participants expressing concern about having too many or too few sexual partners. A study published in the Independent revealed that both men and women agreed that 10 partners was "just about right".​​

In addition, another study found that participants' desire to date someone was related to the number of their previous sexual partners. The ideal number was two to three partners, with attraction falling after that number​​. This may indicate a social desire for some experiences, but not too many, which is likely related to perceptions of fidelity and sexual health.

Taken together, these studies point to complex dynamics surrounding the number of sexual partners in a relationship. Social norms and personal preferences play a key role in shaping our opinions about the ideal number of sexual partners, which can also affect our relationships and attraction. Given that different cultures and individuals perceive the ideal number of sexual partners differently, it is important to discuss and understand different perspectives in order to build healthy and fulfilling relationships.

Photo: Pexels / Ba Tik

Research Journal of Sex Research showed that both men and women are wary of entering into a relationship with a person who has no previous sexual experience, but at the same time they do not want a relationship with promiscuous people. In fact, having more sexual partners makes you less attractive. It is interesting here that the ideal number of partners in front of you for both sexes is no more than three. But when it comes to concrete numbers, women are more unforgiving; men were less demanding about a woman's number of partners if they were only looking for a superficial romance. Women were strongly repulsed if a man had more than six partners, and men were strongly repelled if a woman had more than 11 partners.

Despite the general belief that male promiscuity is more acceptable than female promiscuity, everyone present expressed that they did not want to be with someone who had too many sexual partners. In the end, the results showed that men are more inclined to be with someone who is relatively "innocent" or has a minimal number of sexual partners. Both men and women, however, prefer two long relationships or three short ones before them. Ironically, the survey participants fell short of their own standards. The average number of their ex-partners it is with women amounted to 5.8, and in men 8,4.

At the end of the day, when it comes to the ideal number of sexual partners, we all seem to be a little too ambitious about our past. Maybe it's time to drop the numbers and focus on the quality of our relationships, not the quantity. But will we ever stop counting? Given human nature…probably not.

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