{"id":877938,"date":"2026-10-10T23:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T23:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/877938\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T23:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T23:04:11","slug":"sex-advice-i-started-seeing-a-woman-and-her-husband-we-managed-to-do-what-seems-impossible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/877938\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex advice: I started seeing a woman and her husband. We managed to do what seems impossible."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article-cta__text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/theslatest?utm_source=slate&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=article_plain_text_topper&amp;sailthru_source=Article-TopperText-CTA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for the Slatest<\/a> to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"31\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16mksk000h5hma3lx0lzd9@published\">Each month, How to Do It columnists Jessica Stoya and Rich Juzwiak\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdx34-uOijrCIKqMdw5hnyYahSJBKa4AaSzDCu1nfcpmd3IjA\/viewform\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ask readers for their thoughts<\/a>\u00a0on the letters they\u2019ve received. In this edition, Rich replies to readers\u2019 comments and suggestions below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"5\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16qtum002p3b7gp7kcrtkt@published\">Hey How to Do It,<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"123\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16ptm400173b7g7dxptiha@published\">This is in response to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/08\/sex-advice-men-friends-with-benefits-fears.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I Don\u2019t Bite, I Swear<\/a>,\u201d regarding the woman who wanted a friends wit benefits relationship. I actually think what she said makes perfect sense (though I bet she regrets mentioning the laundry example, given how everyone fixated on it). I myself have had both a fuck buddy \u201crelationship\u201d and a friends with benefits relationship, and they had clear differences. When I was 21, I had a fuck buddy arrangement with a 31-year-old guy. We hooked up casually for a handful of months, but we never went out to eat, watched movies, or did anything other than meet up for sex. We did talk a little, but it was just polite chitchat to bookend the main purpose of sex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"145\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pto700183b7gxove5fa6@published\">After that, I entered a friends with benefits situation for about a year. This was with a very new friend I had just made\u2014barely a month. She invited me to join her and her husband in an ethical non-monogamy situation. I was clear from the jump that I wasn\u2019t interested in long-term or romance, but short-term fun as friends with benefits sounded fine. We did watch movies, hang out without having sex every time, invite each other to social events and gatherings, go on road trips even, etc. The girl in the FWB did end up catching feelings for me, but I let her know my outlook hadn\u2019t changed, and we were able to manage that maturely. It\u2019s been over a decade now, and we are still close friends (they are still together with kids now, and I later married and had a kid too).<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"78\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16ptq400193b7gj8gqqcyu@published\">Maybe it\u2019s a little easier to be an FWB in a same sex relationship (I was with the husband too, but my primary friendship was and is with the woman). I think for those who would say it sounds like I was more than FWBs with the couple, the key differences for me were that I didn\u2019t want long-term, and I didn\u2019t feel a sense of \u201cromance.\u201d We really were just good friends who were also having sex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"77\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16ptrx001a3b7g7m63ugcc@published\">Altogether, I don\u2019t think the letter writer is deluded, and I do think there is a clear distinction between fuck buddies and friends with benefits that can absolutely work. She might have better luck if she said she\u2019s looking for something short-term but consistent, a casual friends with benefits situation. And then see if it\u2019s natural to hang out and watch a movie after sex, etc. Though for her laundry, probably best to stick to a laundromat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"6\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pttp001b3b7g1b5c3gd1@published\">\u2014Friends With Benefits Do Exist (she\/her)<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"151\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16ptvk001c3b7g3ehzgokl@published\">FWBs definitely do exist. But look at your particular case\u2014you were friends with someone, and then it turned into sex. I\u2019m not sure if you went in with a plan and it just happened to work out for you, but I\u2019m guessing you didn\u2019t. What struck me about the letter primarily was that achieving all of that which the writer was looking for was going to be hard to pull off, especially given how fuzzy these definitions are. What you lay out in your letter makes perfect sense, but because these terms are more subjectively defined, the distinction between fuck buddy and FWB for you may not look the same for someone else. Of course, people do go specifically looking for friends with benefits and find them, but this is best done with a flexible approach to how this might operate, and yes, with laundry left entirely out of the equation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"prudie-google-form__disclaimer\">\n      Please keep questions short (&lt;150 words), and don\u2019t submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-notification--success js-success-message\" hidden=\"\">Thanks! Your question has been submitted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"5\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pz47001h3b7gmnwmf415@published\">Hey How to Do It,<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"112\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pzqx001n3b7g44dfg707@published\">I\u2019m surprised the possibility of leaving some clothing on during sex didn\u2019t come up in Rich\u2019s response to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/08\/sex-advice-men-friends-with-benefits-fears.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Former Big Guy<\/a>.\u201d (Rich is usually such a pragmatist!) Admittedly, I\u2019m not sure what all \u201cshaper shirts and things\u201d might entail, but there\u2019s some really creative male lingerie with strategically placed openings out there, especially from brands that cater to trans folks. I know I find saying, \u201cItem X does not come off,\u201d easier than discussing my personal health journey, especially when I\u2019m still getting to know someone. And a successful hookup can go a long way toward building confidence, even if finding a long-term partner to be naked with is the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"3\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pzqx001o3b7g3yg1fkic@published\">\u2014Tasteful Never Nude<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"103\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16pzqy001p3b7gud2751t7@published\">This is a great point, and would likely save a lot of grief. Definitely an oversight on my part, and I\u2019m kicking myself because I\u2019ve seen this play out in my life. Most egregiously, a guy I once hooked up with wore a baseball cap the entire time we were together\u2014including when we were cleaning up in the shower together after sex. I figured he was balding and self-conscious, but I didn\u2019t mind it. My point is that even if keeping on clothing conveys insecurities, at least they\u2019re vague and unseen, which probably feels better than having them exposed to a virtual stranger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"5\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q6is001u3b7gtkzzode3@published\">Hey How to Do It,<\/p>\n<p>          <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/10\/parenting-advice-redheaded-stepchild-joke.html\" class=\"in-article-recirc__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n            This Content is Available for Slate Plus members only<\/p>\n<p>            My Wife Can\u2019t Wrap Her Head Around the Fact That She Gave Birth to a Ginger. Our Daughter Is Starting to Notice.<br \/>\n          <\/a><\/p>\n<p>          <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/10\/dear-prudence-dad-new-girlfriend-off-limits.html\" class=\"in-article-recirc__link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n            This Content is Available for Slate Plus members only<\/p>\n<p>            My Dad\u2019s New Girlfriend Is the One Person Who Should Be Off Limits. I\u2019m About to Lose It.<br \/>\n          <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"98\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73900203b7gfx2d0q1x@published\">Hi, I\u2019m an escort and fan of the column. I wanted to offer a fix for the recent question from <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/08\/sex-small-size-husband-advice-penis-vibrator.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Want to Figure It Out<\/a> regarding her husband\u2019s small size and her lack of pleasure.<br \/>One option that wasn\u2019t mentioned is a penis sleeve (also called a penis extender sleeve). These are wearable silicone sleeves that can add length and\/or girth while still allowing intimacy between partners. For couples where penetration is limited by anatomy rather than desire, they can be a practical solution, especially when combined with other forms of stimulation like a vibrator.\u00a0Here\u2019s hoping he\u2019s into it!<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"6\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73900213b7g12pgdqul@published\">\u2014Ready to Help Figure It Out<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"85\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73900223b7gg1t8ceir@published\">It\u2019s definitely an option. I will confess to having no experience with these aids, and I\u2019ve long wondered just how sheathing your penis in something so thick could possibly be pleasurable on the giving end. People hate condoms, and they\u2019re millimeters thick! I guess with this kind of toy, the penetrator\u2019s sensations matter less than those of the penetrated, which isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing. I\u2019d love to hear from anyone who has experience with these things, as I\u2019ve always found them a bit puzzling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"5\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73a00233b7gd1ce6zjl@published\">Hey How to Do It,<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"42\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73a00243b7g9sr783an@published\">Re: <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/08\/sex-advice-husband-new-development-dreams.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Sheets Have Been Through a Lot<\/a>: I\u2019ve always been rather amazed that I woke up in the throes of an intense orgasm and a wet dream at the age of 35. Maybe it\u2019s not as uncommon as I\u2019ve always thought.<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"1\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73a00253b7ge1cuvska@published\">\u2014Awakening<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"29\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q73a00263b7ga8kynony@published\">It happens! Not to me (ever), so I\u2019m jealous, but it happens. Take it as a sign of a healthy libido, or perhaps prolonged abstinence from sex. Maybe both!<\/p>\n<p>More Advice From Slate<\/p>\n<p class=\"slate-paragraph slate-graf\" data-word-count=\"47\" data-uri=\"slate.com\/_components\/slate-paragraph\/instances\/cmv16q8lu002b3b7gnbqefzr6@published\">I was wondering if you\u2019ve got any tips on masturbating less? (Sorry if this is TMI.) I\u2019m a cis woman in her early twenties, and I tend to masturbate manually each night to orgasm just before sleep, <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/human-interest\/2022\/12\/bedtime-routine-too-much-advice.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">but I\u2019d like to cut back for a few reasons\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a data-copy-url=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/10\/sex-advice-friend-with-benefits-couple.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=traffic&amp;utm_source=article&amp;utm_content=copy_link\" class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--copy js-copy-share-link\" data-share=\"copy-link\" data-parsely-event=\"_copy-link\" aria-label=\"Copy Link\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>    Copy Link<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <a data-share-url=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/advice\/2026\/10\/sex-advice-friend-with-benefits-couple.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=traffic&amp;utm_source=article&amp;utm_content=web_share\" class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--share js-web-share-link\" data-share=\"web-share\" data-parsely-event=\"_web-share\" aria-label=\"Share\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"\"><\/p>\n<p>    Share<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--gift social-share--disabled\" data-share=\"gift-link\" data-parsely-event=\"_gift-link\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>      Gift Story<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>You have  remaining gift  available this month. This gift link is valid through .<\/p>\n<p>There was an error with your gift link. Please try again.<\/p>\n<p>              Copy link\n            <\/p>\n<p>              Link copied!\n            <\/p>\n<p>      Only Slate Plus members can gift Slate stories. Become a member to share 10 free articles a month.<a class=\"gift-link-box__txt-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/plus\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Become a Plus Member<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":877939,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[3005,97,14110],"class_list":["post-877938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-advice","tag-health","tag-sex"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/877938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=877938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/877938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/877939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=877938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=877938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=877938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}