Ideally, the decision to have sex should be made on the basis of your comfort level and understanding of your date. This is especially important if you’re planning on using protection.
Keeping to the three date rule can feel disenfranchising, since it holds women up to problematic Madonna-whore paradigms. But it can also help you figure out who someone really is.
First Date
While deciding when to start dating is an individual choice, there are some things to keep in mind. For one, it’s always best to wait a bit until you have a solid sense of whether or not someone is compatible with you.
It’s also important to consider your views on sex. While some people might feel comfortable having casual sex on the first date, it’s important to be sure you’re both safe and practicing healthy boundaries. Having friends present on your first date can also help. A recent study found couples who played board games together had a higher surge of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone.” Try asking your date to bring a game or two to share.
Second Date
The second date is a time for learning more about your date, including their interests and values. It’s also a good time to establish physical boundaries, such as whether your date is comfortable with you touching them.
Psychotherapist Janine Ilsley recommends that you “almost always take a leap of faith by going on a second date.” Camaraderie is more important than initial spark in terms of predicting relationship success.
Some people prefer to follow the three-date rule, which suggests waiting until your third date before having sex. However, this is not a requirement. Do what feels right to you and your partner. Your comfort level is the most important factor.
Third Date
The third date is typically more casual. It’s a chance to see your date in a different setting and to gauge how they interact with others in a non-romantic setting.
It’s also the time when inside jokes might start to develop. But it’s not the time for sex just yet, especially if you want to keep your relationship intact.
Some people adhere to the “third date rule,” which suggests that women should wait until the third date before getting intimate with a man. While this rule is silly, it does help to add a layer of safety to your relationship. Then, you can feel confident about taking things to the next level if you’re comfortable doing so.
Fourth Date
By the fourth date, you should have a good idea of where things stand with your potential new partner. You’ll have had a chance to discuss more serious topics and get an understanding of each other’s goals and expectations for the relationship.
If, by the fourth date, you feel like you and your date are on the same page in terms of the relationship, it may be time to talk about sex. However, it’s important to remember that the four date rule is not a hard and fast rule and that the decision of when to sleep together should be based on your personal values and choices.
Fifth Date
By the fifth date, you should be getting more and more comfortable with your partner. You should also be more open about things that are important to you.
This is a good time to start talking about the future of your relationship. Ask your date what they want for their life and if it matches with what you want for yours.
For instance, if they don’t want to get married or have kids one day while you do, that’s something you should find out early on instead of discovering it later. Your match should also share your same values and beliefs. If they don’t, you should probably look elsewhere.
Sixth Date
Again, this is a highly personal decision. Maybe you’re ready to jump in the sack on the first date, or perhaps it takes eights dates for you to feel confident enough in your relationship to have the exclusivity talk.
Regardless of whether you have sex on the first date or the tenth, it’s important to practice safe sex and be aware of any boundaries you want to put in place. According to Time Out, people decide to become exclusive after six dates on average. However, the Groupon survey found that on average it takes eights dates before this topic is even discussed. Regardless, you’re both investing an incredible amount of time into this relationship.
Seventh Date
The seventh date marks a transition from dating someone to seeing them. If you have made it to this point, chances are you’re going out together on a regular basis and he or she might be spending more time at your place.
This is a great time to ask about their past sexual history and get an idea of where they’re headed. It can also be an opportunity to see if you have any mutual dealbreakers. If so, getting them out in the open now can save you a lot of heartache down the road. Plus, it’s just fun to talk about!
Eighth Date
There are many different rules in the dating world. Some people follow the three date rule, which advises that couples wait until the third date to have sex. Others follow the five date rule, which suggests that a man should ask for exclusivity after the fifth date and that women should withhold sex until that point as well.
But what if these rules aren’t quite right? What if they don’t account for things like intimacy, or the fact that men are slower to form this connection? And what about the fact that most relationships break down because of communication issues? These are some of the questions that experts at the Gottman Institute answer through their Eight Dates program.
