In the fifties the media referred to it as "wife-swapping." Today it's called "swinging," but regardless of its name this alternative lifestyle seems to be increasing in popularity among mainstream, middle-aged married couples in America. The popular media, are paying increasing attention to the phenomenon, often putting a positive spin on the effects which swinging has upon marriages. It is estimated there are organized swing clubs in almost all states as well as Canada, England, France, Germany, and Japan.

These clubs are lucrative businesses which provide all levels of social activities for swingers including vacation plans, special vacation sites for swingers, and yearly conferences and seminars.

Unlike "open marriages" of the 1970's which promoted non-possessive love and tolerance of infidelity in their spouses ), or "polyamory". (The love of many people at once ). Swinging is non-monogamous sexual activity, treated much like any other social activity, that can be experienced as a couple. Emotional monogamy, or commitment to the love relationship with one's marital partner, remains the primary focus. Swinging is usually done in the presence of one's spouse and requires the consent of both to the experience. Although swinger couples often become close friends with other swinging couples, there are rules restricting emotional involvement with non-spousal partners.

While swinging involves having sex with people other than one's spouse, its adherents claim that it enhances the relationship of the swinging couple both sexually and emotionally. By removing the secrecy and dishonesty inherent in one's natural desires for sexual variety, the couple can explore their fantasies together without deceit or guilt. By removing the necessity for deceit from the relationship, a new level of trust and openness about all of one's feelings is supposedly achieved without the destructive baggage of jealousy.

Swinging as an alternative lifestyle is of both practical and scholarly interest because the attempt to combine sexual non-monogamy with emotional monogamy is fundamentally "deviant" from the western model of romantic love which assumes that sexual and emotional monogamy are mutually reinforcing and inseparable . It has yet to be demonstrated empirically whether this alternative lifestyle actually strengthens or weakens marital relationships, but in an era where 37% of husbands and 29% of wives admit to having had at least one extra-marital affair , where divorce rates for first marriages are approaching 60% , and where family instability and parental neglect of children has become a major national concern , any attempt to redefine "love" and strengthen the marital bond is worthy of our attention. If swingers have found a way to stabilize relationships, prolong family ties, and enrich the lives of couples we would be remiss if we did not take their lifestyle and their redefinition of monogamous love seriously.

This paper reports on the results of a national survey of 1092 swingers and their views on politics, sex, marriage, family, and how swinging has affected their relationships with their partners in a preliminary attempt to answer some important questions about this unusual lifestyle.

In swinging lifestyle no body is frustrated or care about lost loves. In swinger lifestyle, couples simply give and receive pleasure but, there are many important things you should always keep in mind when going into the lifestyle.

Do not start swinging if any, you or your partner do not want to swing.

Do not go into swinger lifestyle if you are not sure of what you wish or how strong is really your relationship.

Swinger life style needs a good communication more than any other thing. Couples in swinging lifestyle must be confident and capable of talking in a open way.

Soft swinging

Soft swinging is a couple watching another couples while both having sex. This may include some shared foreplay, usually oral sex yet no vaginal penetration or intercourse will occur. Soft swinging is intended to be a turn on for couples and only to spice things up a little and to have fun. Lots of new swinger couples first tried with this modality of swinging before jumping to full swinging (open swinging or closed swinging).

Closed swinging

This is very common and it is called "wife swapping" and it takes place when two couples exchange partners for having sex indifferent rooms. By closed swinging both partners in a couple have an intimate experience. It is usual swinger couples to practice this since there's less chance of being interrupted.

Open swinging

Open swinging consists in couples swapping and having sex in the same room at the same time and even on the same bed. This implies orgies and it its a good chance for some exhibitionism and voyeurism. Open swinging is a complete and total release for mind and body since you let it all go, any sexual fantasy or desire. However for open swinging to be enjoyable no one in the group should be jealous.

Swingers are healthy people

Swingers are healthy people and you too should. Practice safe sex and keep yourself disease free. Even when most swingers are healthy people there are always some ones that are not. Nobody is totally free of risks but you can judge yourself.

Every day, more couples opt for swinger lifestyle since it is a way to get away from daily stress and routine. In swinger lifestyle there are many new experiences for every one. Online swinger clubs, communities and sites will make easer to contact other couples for later swinging or swapping with them.