Q: How do you feel about men and women living together before they’re married? Does it affect a man’s sexual interest when there’s no “challenge?”
Dr. Klein: Living together is a big step. It will challenge you in ways nothing else can. If you want to move your relationship forward, or see what it’s really made of, living together is certainly a way to do that. The challenges presented by living together will give you a lot of information that can help you decide if you want to be with someone on a long-term basis. If the increase in time and availability together makes someone lose interest in you sexually, there is already something wrong with the relationship. You might find such knowledge useful; there are other people who would rather not know, and continue dating and living separately.