The Scottish Government is "not persuaded of the case" to establish civil partnerships between men and women as it launched a consultation on the issue.
It follows legislation last year that introduced same-sex marriage raising questions over the future of civil partnerships.
The consultation is to examine whether civil partnerships remain available to same-sex couples only, or if no new civil partnerships could be entered into in future.
The Scottish Government has also considered the option of introducing civil partnerships between men and women but said evidence suggests that demand would be low, there would be limited recognition of such partnerships outwith Scotland and there would be costs involved.
Local government and community empowerment minister Marco Biagi said: "This government is immensely proud of introducing same-sex marriage, which was a milestone in achieving equality in Scotland.
"During the parliamentary passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, we said we would consider the future of civil partnerships, which is what our consultation now seeks to do.
"We remain open to hearing all views on the options set out in the consultation but, after careful consideration of this issue, we are not persuaded of the case for the establishment of opposite-sex civil partnership in Scotland."
Figures published by National Records of Scotland show there were only eight civil partnerships during the second quarter of 2015, compared to 129 in the previous year.
During the same period, there were 427 same-sex marriages, of which 236 were changes from civil partnership to marriage.
Regardless of the outcome of the consultation, existing civil partners will be able to remain in their civil partnership with no obligation to change it into a marriage.
The Equality Network said it was disappointed with the Government's position.
Director Tim Hopkins said: "We welcome the publication of the consultation paper. But we are surprised and disappointed that the Scottish Government appear to have decided already to oppose equal civil partnership, that is, making civil partnership available to all couples regardless of gender.
"In our view, that is the only option that respects both equality and diversity.
"We know that a significant minority of mixed-sex and same-sex couples would prefer a civil partnership to a marriage, and at the moment only same-sex couples have that option. Equality means making that available to all."
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