Bisexual men make for better fathers and lovers than straight men, a new study finds.

Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, a senior lecturer at Deakin School of Health and Social Development, interviewed 78 Australian women to break the stigma on mixed-orientation relationships.

Ranging from 16 to 65 years of age, they came from a variety of cultural, sexual and geographical backgrounds.

But all had one thing in common: they were, or had been, in a monogamous, open, polyamorous marital or de-facto relationship with bi men.

‘These mixed-orientation relationships or what I call MOREs, sit outside the boundaries of what many may consider a “normal” relationship, whether it’s straight or gay,’ she told the Geelong Advertiser.

‘What the research has shown is that they are very real and valid and deserve our attention, support and understanding.’

Her study, so Pallotta-Charolli, found that women considered their bisexual partners to be more sexually and emotionally interested – and they think of them as better fathers, too.

The research was conducted as the basis of a new book, titled Women In Relationships with Bisexual Men – Bi Men By Women, through which Pallotta-Charolli said she wants to show that those relationships go beyond the stereotype.

Often, she argues, mixed-orientation relationships are assumed to be women in relationships with gay men, when they are, in fact, different.

‘It is my hope that we can stop presenting only the stereotypical story about MOREs: that all bisexual men are untrustworthy and have secret affairs; that all bisexual men transmit HIV and STI to women; that all bisexual men are abusive to their women partners,’ she said.

‘While we found these issues are certainly out there and we don’t shy away from discussing them, we need to lift the stigma for the women who choose to be in relationships with bisexual men.’