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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Eleanor Gordon-Smith

I’m considering dating again. Should I stop having sex with my ex?

A 17th-century glass painting attributed to Carlo Garofalo, depicting the romantic story of Rinaldo and Armida from the medieval chivalric romance.
‘If the life goal is ever to be fully disentangled from this person, that will eventually mean in bed, too,’ writes Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Painting: Rinaldo and Armida by Carlo Garofalo. Illustration: piemags/Alamy

Should I stop having sex with my ex? I recently broke up with someone who is fantastic in bed, and good at the fun stuff, but utterly incompatible with me as a partner. There was a lot of pain involved in finding this out.

I’m considering dating again, but haven’t managed to stop having sex with this person – it’s the best sex I’ve ever had, and we have agreed to be friends with benefits. Should I stop? Will it impede my progress in moving on to potential new partners? I don’t have any desire to rekindle a deeper relationship, but don’t want to give up the fun bits that bring me so much pleasure and joy. I’ve never done anything like this before – uncharted territory for me.

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