{"id":20522,"date":"2022-09-23T11:15:41","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=20522"},"modified":"2026-01-19T11:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T16:31:16","slug":"how-many-sexual-partners-is-too-many","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/how-many-sexual-partners-is-too-many\/","title":{"rendered":"How many sexual partners is “too many”?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sex is a personal thing. Everyone has different tastes, desires, and hang-ups. Some have one sexual partner for their entire lives, while others see lovers come and go.<\/p>\n

Despite this wide range of \u201cnormal,\u201d many feel like they have to lie, deny, or exaggerate when it comes to how many people they\u2019ve slept with. But, outside of societal expectations, is it possible to have too many bedfellows? When it comes to sex, how <\/span>many sexual partners<\/span> is \u201ctoo many?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What counts as a sexual partner?<\/h3>\n

While \u201csexual partner\u201d isn\u2019t a very sexy term, it simply means someone you\u2019re engaging in sexual activity with. This can be any gender, sexual orientation, or amount of people \u2014 more on that below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different strokes for different folks<\/h3>\n

Western society is structured around the monogamous couple, where both partners commit to being only with one another. Polyamory, however, has become increasingly popular over the last few years \u2014 or at least more widely talked about. Polyamory is the practice of having more than one committed, romantic relationship that\u2019s often sexual at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monogamy and polyamory aren\u2019t the only options though. Some individuals prefer to have serial <\/span>sexual relationships<\/span>, seeing each partner once, or only a few times. Others choose to opt-out of <\/span>sexual relationships<\/span> entirely, or at least for periods of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also people in <\/span>open relationships<\/span>, where they have an emotional and sexual connection with their current partner but are involved in outside sexual relationships. While your great-aunt Shirley might not approve, any of these models is fine as long as it\u2019s working for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

How many sexual partners is \u201cnormal\u201d?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to gauge the average <\/span>number of sexual partners in Canada<\/span> adults have, and just how much sex they\u2019re having. The internet claims that <\/span>Millennials and Gen Z are having less casual sex<\/span><\/a> than previous generations. This is thought to be due to things like less alcohol consumption, more time scrolling on social media and playing video games, and living with their parents for longer. And what about their Boomer and Gen X parents and the rest of the generations?<\/span><\/p>\n

The latest Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) reports that <\/span>37%<\/span><\/a> of sexually active 15 to 24-year-olds had more than one partner in the last year. Finding out the number of lifetime partners Canadians are likely to have though, is more difficult. Our government doesn\u2019t keep statistics on that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a sense of how <\/span>many sexual partners<\/span> the average Canadian has, we had to turn to Durex. Their 2007 to 2008 survey on sexual habits claims that Canadian males average <\/span>23 sexual partners<\/span><\/a> over their lifetime, while Canadian women have around 10. Keep in mind, though, that this survey isn\u2019t super recent, and like most surveys on sexual behaviour, its participant sample wasn\u2019t very large. In other words, the survey might not be as reflective of Canadian sexual behaviour as it appears.<\/span><\/p>\n

The impact of sex on our lives<\/h3>\n

Sex isn\u2019t only a natural part of life and meant to be enjoyed, but it\u2019s also really good for your mental and physical health. Let\u2019s start with your mental health, shall we? Having sex is a surefire way to boost endorphins and other hormones that help improve your mood. This can help to relieve stress and decrease anxiety and depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sex can also have a positive impact on your self-esteem. Let\u2019s face it, not everyone was born with confidence, and that\u2019s ok. But having sex can make you feel confident, sexy, and even powerful \u2014 all great things for your self-esteem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As for the physical benefits of sex? Both men and women have been shown to experience <\/span>improved heart health<\/span><\/a> by participating in frequent sex, which for men specifically, is considered at least two times a week. Men may also be at a decreased risk of prostate cancer when engaging in frequent sex since regular ejaculation is linked to a lower risk, but more research is still needed to prove this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, have you ever noticed that if you have some sort of pain, it\u2019s slightly reduced during and right after having sex? That\u2019s because sex is a natural pain reliever, thanks to the happy hormones racing through your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many more positive health benefits to sex, but we\u2019ll leave you with this one \u2014 something many of us could use more of \u2014 good sleep! Once you have an orgasm, the hormone prolactin paired with the release of other hormones can make you feel relaxed, leading to improved sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should you discuss your sexual history with your partner?<\/h3>\n

Discussing the number of people you\u2019ve slept with has been dubbed the <\/span>most uncomfortable topic<\/span><\/a> to share with your significant other. And while you don\u2019t need to get into the nitty-gritty details of exactly how many <\/span>sexual encounters<\/span> you\u2019ve had and where they all happened, there is a benefit to discussing your sexual history. If you\u2019ve had a sexual relationship with someone who has an STI, for example, you\u2019ll want to be transparent with your partner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You should also ask your partner if they\u2019ve been tested after the last person they had sex with before you engage in any sexual activity with them. Whether it was oral, <\/span>vaginal<\/span>, or <\/span>anal sex<\/span> with or<\/span> without a condom<\/span>, you could be at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

While a high number of sexual partners puts you at an increased risk of infection, you can still get an STI from sleeping with just one person. Your number might not be important \u2014 or comfortable \u2014 for your partner to hear, but discussing your exposure to STIs and being tested is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it ok to have multiple sexual partners?<\/h3>\n

Regardless of the number of partners you have, relationships can be hard. You have to compromise and take your partner\u2019s feelings into account. But even when feelings aren\u2019t involved \u2014 and when are feelings not involved \u2014 sex is still risky.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is <\/span>risky sex?<\/span><\/a> It can be anything from:<\/span><\/p>\n