"Sexual role play can bring elements of play and novelty to a relationship. This is especially rejuvenating when partners feel like they've hit a plateau in the relationship," says therapist Wardeh C. Hattab, LCSW. Using role-play can help you and your partner rediscover the intrigue of your early days together and inject fun back into a sex life that might have begun to feel a little routine.

Role-play is also a chance to step outside of the everyday rules you usually live your life by. "It allows couples to do things they wouldn't have felt comfortable doing otherwise," explains sex therapist Aliyah Moore, Ph.D. "If you're used to asking politely, role-playing gives you the chance to become more assertive and make decisive orders toward your partner. On the other hand, if you're someone who's used to pleasing others, role-playing gives you the chance to simply lie down, relax, and take the role of the receiver."

Moore goes on to say that role-play can be a wonderful way for couples to bond and get closer as "acting out a fantasy builds the anticipation between partners, making sexual encounters more intimate and fulfilling."

It might feel a little intimidating to bring up role-playing with your partner if it's something the two of you have never done before. To make it easier, sex educator Niki Davis-Fainbloom recommends bringing up the topic outside of sexual scenarios, "so partners have time to think about it without feeling pressure to do anything right away."

She also suggests that you consider what scenarios you might be interested in exploring before you bring it up with your partner so that you're prepared to answer their questions and explain what you might be into.

It's also important to keep in mind that discussing desires related to role-play should be a series of discussions rather than a one-and-done situation, says Hattab."

"Role-play is when you take on the persona of someone else while having sex. For example, a couple may have sex while pretending to be strangers who met at a bar or acting out a scene where one person is royalty and the other is a servant.

The role-play can be as developed and complex or as simple as you like: You can incorporate costumes, backstories, and music to set the scene, or you can just narrate what you're doing from a different perspective. The point is just to use your imagination to heighten sexual pleasure, tap into sexual fantasies, and play with creativity and self-expression."

Setting boundaries is of the utmost importance when experimenting with role-play, says Prem. Spell out to your partner what you're comfortable with and what you're not. Establish a safe word before beginning that you can use to come out of the scene if you start to feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed.

Being really clear with your partner about which aspects of a role-play scenario turn you on can help both of you to glean more pleasure from it. "An open discussion of the fantasy may help the partner understand what aspect means the most in role-playing to the other person," Hattab adds. "A partner who is less interested in role-play may be open to it with some more understanding of why their partner has this fantasy."

Make sure you're on the same page before diving in. A scenario in which you're the doctor and your partner is the patient, for example, could have myriad different ways of being played out. Establish a framework together for what things are off-limits and what things you both think is sexy."