We love each other – but he has been bringing up the possibility of having sex with other guys. He says he hasn’t been satisfied with our sex life, but I told him I can’t emotionally deal with an open relationship. Within certain communities where open relationships are relatively common, there may be a tendency for some to opt for that rather than fully exploring intimacy within their primary relationship. There are many kinds of “open relationships”, and negotiating rules and guidelines is extremely important. • Pamela Stephenson Connolly is a psychotherapist who specialises in treating sexual disorders• If you would like advice from Pamela Stephenson Connolly on sexual matters, send us a brief description of your concerns to private.lives@theguardian.com (please don’t send attachments).

Source: The Guardian July 24, 2017 06:56 UTC