Sex with ex-girlfriends might not seem like the best idea in the world, as it can stir up old memories and feelings, leaving things complicated or awkward. But, for all the drama and over-thinking we all put into it (potentially) happening, as it turns out, banging out with a former girlfriend isn’t actually all that bad for you, per a new research.
According to two new studies that were published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, sex with ex flings or girlfriends won’t do as much damage as we all migh thing, with the research even going as far as saying that getting down and dirty together won’t stunt the process of moving on at all — even for those heartbroken or in a bad place.
Both of these sex with ex-girlfriend studies were conducted by researchers at Wayne State University, Western University and the University of Toronto Mississauga, which had 113 newly single (and dumped) people to complete an online survey to determine if they had any physical contact with their ex, how attached they felt to them and how they emotionally felt at the end of the day.
In the other study, the same research group had 372 people explain if they had sex with ex partners or attempted to try, seeing how they still felt emotionally tied to them.
The results? Both studies showed that no additional heartache came from those who did, in fact, sleep with a former partner. To support this notion even more, the study also showed that those who felt the most emotionally tied to exes and sought sex with one, only did so to help fill a hole that was previously filled by an ex.
That’s all good and well, but the best news about this study is this: sex with ex-girlfriends didn’t leave any of the heartbroken people feel worse about the breakup at all, instead making them feel even more positive about the situation by providing a bit of emotional healing. Uh, yeah, that’s awesome.
Here’s what one of the lead researchers in the study, Stephanie Spielmann of Wayne State University, had to add from the results.
“The fact that sex with an ex is found to be most eagerly pursued by those having difficulty moving on, suggests that we should perhaps instead more critically evaluate people’s motivations behind pursuing sex with an ex.”
We’re not saying sex with ex-girlfriends should be a common theme for you, but, hey, if she’s blowing up your phone and giving hints that she may want to come sneak between the sheets with you, it might be worth giving it a try — seeing as how it won’t impact feelings or the healing process. That said, if your ex-girlfriend is a psychopath who cheated on you and treated you like dirt, well, proceed with caution, no matter how wild the sex was and might be.