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History of Wife Swapping

History of Wife Swapping

Content Verification

Tatyana Dyachenko
Written by:
Tatyana Dyachenko
Psychologist and Relationship Adviser
Veronika Matutyte
Medically Reviewed by:
Veronika Matutyte
Medical Doctor
Katie Lasson
Fact Checked by:
Katie Lasson
Sex and Relationship Adviser

🔍 Quick & Cheeky Summary 🔍

✨ A whirlwind tour of history’s most tantalising bedroom trends.


🔥 How the swinging sixties truly earned its name!


💃 The rise of modern-day wife swapping and why it’s all the rage.


👀 The do’s & don’ts for those considering a little extra spice.

💡 Key Advice & Tips from Our Experts 💡

💬 Communication is the ultimate aphrodisiac – talk openly & honestly!


🔑 Consent is sexy – ensure all parties are on the same (sizzling) page.


🎭 Fantasy vs. Reality – explore within comfort zones but keep it exciting!


🔄 Aftercare matters – keep the afterglow strong with mutual check-ins.

By Tatyana Dyachenko

History of Wife Swapping The history of wife swapping is an interesting look into how sexual practises changed during the twentieth century, and goes some way to explaining how we came to reach the sexual values we hold today. Although it's similar to swinging, which we have covered in a previous blog post, there are a few important distinctions to be made. Unlike regular swinging, wife swapping often involves a lot more participants, and can sometimes be end up resulting in an orgy, as multiple partners are passed between people and everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to explore each other's bodies.

The party atmosphere of wife swapping is what has attracted many to it in recent years, as they look for an adventurous way of having some fun and enjoying new experiences.

Like many other cultural phenomena of the twentieth century, wife swapping as a practise began in America. During the Second World War, many soldiers and their families were stationed together on military bases. With such a sense of not knowing what tomorrow might bring and who might die when next posted to the front, lots of couples began experimented with wife swapping, so that if something should happen to a soldier, there would be someone else to take care of them.

It didn't take long, though, for the practise to spread to civilian life, as after the war many demobilised soldiers carried on this experimentation in the form of "key clubs". This is the image that most people have of wife swapping- car keys all put into a bowl, and whichever key a man pulls out, he sleeps with the wife of whose key it is. It was in the 1950s that this became really widespread, and the concept of wife swapping passed into popular culture.

It became common for those interested in wife swapping to make use of personal ads in local newspapers to find other likeminded couples, and as adult magazines became more mainstream, many publications cropped up specifically dedicated to wife swapping. They would publish readers' experiences, publish pictures of readers' wives, and provide a safe forum for those looking to set up a meeting.

With the rise of the internet, wife swapping has never been simpler, and therefore it is experiencing a surge in popularity. There are a plethora of sites out there dedicated to matching up interested couples, and making sure that they have the fun experience they are looking for. If wife swapping is something you are interested in, then there's never been a better time to give it a go. Good luck!

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