Each poly relationship may have different guidelines designed to make everyone involved comfortable. Examples of some guidelines which may be implemented by poly partners are:

• Condom Commitment ~ Partners maintain multiple relationships with an agreement to confine exchange of bodily fluids and barrier-free intercourse to the primary relationship.

• Single-sex Polyamory ~ A person may feel comfortable allowing a partner to seek outside relationships with people of one sex but not the other.

• Veto ~ Partners agree to an open relationship, but allow their primary partner to approve any new partners. If the primary partner does not approve of a new partner, then the new relationship will not continue.

• Prior Approval ~ Each partner is allowed to seek out other relationships, but they must each seek each other's approval prior to doing anything (ie: starting a new relationship, moving a relationship to a sexual level, making plans that may impact the primary relationship)

• Inclusive Polyamory ~ Partners agree to open their relationship to multiple partners, but not to have separate relationships. In other words, all partners must be involved with any new partner. Most commonly found in relationships with bisexuality, but not always. For example, "Involved" may include deep friendship, or group sex that does not involve bisexuality.

• Primary Priority ~ Partners maintain multiple relationships, with the agreement that their primary relationship always comes first. These other relationships are often called "secondary".

• Tell-All ~ Partners agree to maintain multiple relationships and agree to keep each other informed of specific and intimate details.

• Need-to-Know ~ Partners agree to maintain multiple relationships and each agrees to make the other aware that a new relationship has started, but does not supply addition information or specific details unless asked.

• Don't Ask/Don't Tell ~ Partners agree to an open relationship, but would rather not be aware of any outside relationships their partner has.

• Sexual Polyamory ~ Partners agree to multiple sexual relationships, but prefer to keep them on a primarily sexual level, with less emotional involvement. For many, this type of arrangement may be more accurately described as swinging.

• Emotional Priority ~ Partners agree to have multiple relationships which may develop sexually, but casual sex is not allowed. All relationships must start with an emotional foundation.