Ah yes, nothing spices up a budding romance like the inevitable conversation about your “body count.” Right between “What’s your love language?” and “Do you believe in ghosts?” comes: So… how many people have you slept with? A true bonding moment.
But here’s some good news for anyone whose romantic history reads like a casting call: According to a new study, it’s not your total number that matters. It’s your momentum. In other words, people are apparently less freaked out by a high number of past partners if your, uh, extracurricular activities have slowed down over time.
So go ahead and be honest: “Yeah, I had a wild phase… for about 15 years. But I’m totally chill now.”
The study surveyed thousands of people in 11 countries, and surprisingly, the results were pretty consistent… even regardless of gender. Basically, your romantic history is like a stock chart… people are looking for signs the market’s cooling off, not about to crash through the ceiling.
And let’s be real: most people don’t actually care what you were doing 10 years ago, as long as you’re not still doing it now. A high number from your past can come off as adventurous, experienced, worldly even. But if you’re still collecting stamps for your loyalty card, that’s where the red flags start waving.