Term friends with benefits (FWB) may be familiar to some people, especially among young people who live in big cities. Generally, FWB is associated with a physical relationship without feelings and is an option for those who don't want to commit to a long-term commitment.
Friends with benefits described as a friendly relationship with physical and sexual intimacy, but no formal bond or commitment to a relationship like courtship.
So, everyone in a FWB relationship will seem more free to show interest in someone other than their FWB partner.
Connection friends with benefits is now starting to be lived by many young adults. One reason may be that they don't have much time to be in a long-term and emotionally committed relationship.
Although it may seem practical and uncomplicated, especially for those who don't want to be involved in an official relationship, there are some risks that you need to pay attention to and consider before embarking on a FWB relationship.
Some of the Risks of Being in a Relationship Friends with Benefits
There are several risks to consider before you and your partner decide to have a relationship friends with benefits, among others:
1. Relationships are only temporary
FWB relationships often last only a short time, even weeks or months. This is reinforced by several studies which show that the relationship between friends with benefits usually run aground in about 1 year.
However, there are also those who can maintain this relationship for years. This is usually influenced by the comfort factor of each other.
Some people in FWB relationships may be able to continue their relationship into casual friendships, but these kinds of relationships rarely turn into serious relationships.
2. Unrequited love
Although it involves physical and sexual intimacy, friends with benefits not a romantic relationship. However, do not rule out the possibility of feelings that arise from one party over time.
Factors of comfort, satisfaction, and dependence on each other can also trigger the emergence of these feelings. However, the feelings of love that arise are often unrequited and often cause stress to those who experience it.
Therefore, an agreement between you and your partner is very important before deciding to undergo an FWB relationship. That way, you and your partner can better understand what the expectations and boundaries are in the relationship.
If you want a serious commitment, such as marriage or a long-term relationship (long-term relationship), it is necessary to carefully consider the risks of this one before deciding to enter into a relationship friends with benefits.
3. Risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
It is undeniable that the relationship friends with benefits often involve sexual intercourse, although some do not.
This uncommitted sexual relationship includes a risky relationship, because you do not know with whom your FWB partner has had sex before.
If not careful, people who have FWB relationships can be at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, or HIV. This risk will be higher if you or your partner often have sex without a condom and change sexual partners.
In addition to the three risks above, the relationship between friends with benefits It also has the potential to cause heartache and regret later in life. If you want to have a relationship like that, make sure you and your FWB partner don't have excessive expectations so you don't regret the relationship in the future.
Basically, relationship friends with benefits it is not commonly accepted by Indonesian culture. In addition, this relationship is also more risky to live.
For those of you who are undergoing an FWB relationship, especially if the relationship involves sexual intimacy, remember to always use a condom every time you have sex.
If you still have questions about relationships friends with benefits and the risks, you can consult a psychologist, either directly or through chat in the ALODOKTER application.