In case you haven’t heard yet, a friend with benefits (also known as an FWB) is a sexual relationship between two friends without any emotional attachment. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? Chances are if you haven’t had one, you know someone who has. With it becoming an increasingly popular trend, especially on college campuses, a girl might find herself wondering if an FWB is right for her. Like most types of relationships, there are many pros and cons that go along with it.
Pros:
It’s Simple: All you have to do is shoot him a text and you’re set. No games and no tricks. You both know what you want from the relationship, and no one is left surprised or disappointed.
No Worries: No awkward first date, no pretending to be someone you’re not and no forgetting his name in the morning. You two already know each other and are comfortable with each other. No stress and nothing to worry about.
You Can Change Your Mind: Yes girl, you can go ahead and flirt with that cutie in math class. If you find someone new, you can totally change your mind. You don’t have anything tying you down!
No Risk: One night stands are risky at best. They’re easy, and the sex may or may not be good, but you don’t know who you’re crawling into bed with or what kind of diseases they might have. An FWB is someone you already know and don’t have to worry about. No risk = higher reward.
No Drama: Once things end, they end. There are no big fights and no one is arguing over the custody of the dog. You two have your fun and then it is over; it really is that simple.
Cons:
You Might Lose Him as a Friend: Sex is messy business; there is always a chance that when things end between you, being friends without benefits just won’t work.
It’s ONLY Sex: He’s not your boyfriend; you can’t call him up to cry on his shoulder, and he isn’t the best choice to bring to a formal. You two have an agreement: sex and only sex. Those lines might get blurry, but you’ll end up hurt if you expect anything else.
You Still Need to be Careful: Condoms are not optional. Once you get into a routine and feel comfortable with a guy, it’s easy to get sloppy. Remember that actions have consequences, and contraception is your friend.
Catching Feelings: This one is the big one. Someone almost always catches feelings, and that is all well and good until the other person doesn’t feel the same way. Sex can cause some feelings to arise that wouldn’t have otherwise. Keep in mind that feelings are uncontrollable before you go call up your best guy friend.
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