after like 35, it becomes much more awkward to say "boyfriend/girlfriend" than to say "partner" not just because of the significance of marital status implied, but because hopefully nobody in this equation is still a "boy" or "girl". i could only ever see using it again if i were like 70, in a nursing home, was shacking up with some ancient lady and my penis worked sometimes. then i would be like, "yeah, that's my girlfriend" as like a bit, just before i took my teeth out to enjoy some soup.