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Relationships

Very sad about (practically) zero sex life

24 replies

zeromojo · 13/12/2010 20:52

Have name-changed for this as I just feel so sad and embarrassed Sad. DP and I have been together for 10 years and have a DC of two. We both love each other lots, have lots in common, are very considerate to each other but our sex life has completely gone down the pan. We were never exactly the 'at it like knives' types but since DC was born (whilst I was pregnant even) it disappeared.
I am sad about this for two reasons - one, that I don't want it to be like this, like some old couple in separate rooms but also we are supposed to be trying for another baby and it's got to the point where I am crying before I've even ovulated because I know that I won't be pregnant that month because we're unlikely to have sex (never happens at night, always daytime and as DS wakes early, that basically means nap-time on weekend). It is making me very resentful too. I feel like I am ambushing him. Sad When it occasionally happens, it's good, no problems there.

It came to a head this weekend (again) when he rejected me because he said he didn't feel well. Fair enough but it's just symptomatic of the wider issue. I got very upset and angry and we've been talking about it on and off since then. He says he doesn't want it to be like this either, that he does still fancy me and that it's not because he doesn't want another child (he admits that he is ambivalent about another child but not against it). He says that he is tired and hasn't really got a sex drive at the moment - again, this is fair enough but I pointed out to him that he can find the energy to work until past midnight (one night last week )and go to a Christmas party (another night). Also he seems to think that we can only have sex when we're both suddenly overcome by lust - I say that that isn't always realistic when you work and have young children, that you have to make time and give it a go sometimes. But I don't really know if that's true or not and I can't ask friends in RL as I'd have to tell them what a state we're in.

I don't know what to do. Every month I get more upset and resentful about what's happening and about the fact that I won't be pregnant either. But we both seem at a loss as to what to do. He wasn't going to go to a works party tonight but I told him he should go but now I'm sitting here crying again. Any advice much appreciated.

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domesticslattern · 13/12/2010 21:04

Complaining and crying about it probably big big turn offs. Sad (I speak from experience)

Got much time off over Christmas? Anyone to babysit? You could do some good old fashioned flirting with him at parties, dressed up to the nines, show him what he's missing, bit of snogging, make it fun and light-hearted, take it from there?

Date nights spring to mind, maybe to places you used to go when you first met. What kinds of things do you like to do together as a couple (not necessarily as a family)? Sports, cinema, dancing- things which aren't necessarily sex but which bond you as a couple and remind him of the old spark.

Also, mini breaks? No excuses that he's tired. Get out of the old routines. Hotels are wonders for the sex life. Good excuse for a little holiday.

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Blackletterday · 13/12/2010 21:16

Oh thats tough, you must really feel rejected. I don't think the answer lies with you tbh, more with him. We don't do the whole sex thing very often either tbh, maybe because we rarely go to bed together. I would put the whole ttc aspect on hold tbh, work on your relationship, talk more.

No good having another baby in this situation, will just add to the problem.

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zeromojo · 13/12/2010 21:19

Yes, I realise that snot is not a good look (!) but I don't know how else to get my point across - I have tried talking about this rationally and he agrees and then we're back to square one. I just feel like he won't make a bit of effort.

Nights out are a possibility (not so mini-breaks, alas) but I am not exagerating about the no sex on a weeknight thing. He admitted yesterday that the big attraction about bed for him is sleep. I said we could go to bed half an hour earlier and took one look at him and we both laughed (a bit bitterly) as I knew he was thinking about an extra half hour's sleep - and he was.

I am just feeling like I can't get all seductive on him in case he rejects me. It's like we're at stalemate.

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perfumeditsawonderfullife · 13/12/2010 21:24

I don't think I would be happy trying for a second child with an ambivalent partner. That really isn't a great basis, on top of the tired all the time partner, who would be too tired to help and support you with two kids under three!

Is he depressed? Why is he so tired? Ill? Too much drink, late nights? Really, he needs to sort that side out, as it's rubbish for him to feel tired all the time and not helpful to you and the family.

I really think you should put the TTC thing on hold.

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nottonightdearihaveaheadache · 13/12/2010 21:25

this must be really hard for you both,i can empathise with your dp as i too find the bed extremley attractive...for sleeping! my poor hubby would love more action under the covers.

I think the above poster was right about putting the ttc on hold for a while,take the pressure off and try to work on your relationship first,good luck x

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Blackletterday · 13/12/2010 21:28

Don't think I could live with that tbh. Dp and I often have middle of the night sex. I like to stay up late, so when I go to bed at say 2am, sometimes we will do it then. If I was constantly rejected by dp and knew that it was off the cards monday-friday that would be depressing in the extreme.

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zeromojo · 13/12/2010 21:30

Don't get me wrong, he's a great Dad, he does help and support me. He does want another baby but he'd ideally wait another ten years. Unfortunately that would put me well and truly on the other side of menopause.

He isn't depressed and doesn't drink too much. He went to the doctor a few months ago and they did blood tests to rule out some things and they all came back okay. I think he has a sleep problem and he has now agreed to go back to the doctor and push for a referral about it. His need for sleep is not normal to me (and he was like this before DS so it's not just that).

You are probably right about the TTC, although we're not really trying just not not trying IYSWIM. Our relationship is great in every other way and it's not like I want it all the time either.

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perfumeditsawonderfullife · 13/12/2010 21:34

I hope he does go back, and insist on tests until they can come up with what's wrong.

I suffer terrible fatigue due to two chronic health conditions, took ages to get a diagnosis but when i finally did, and got the right medication, it transformed my life. I still have the health issues, but am taking amatryptyline to help with sleep quality and it really works.


Ten years is a long gap Xmas Smile If he gets the sleep sorted you no doubt will see a huge difference in him, good luck, hang in there x

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TheProvincialLady · 13/12/2010 21:35

I think you should tell DH that you both need to face up to this lack of sex. It's not normal (for extended periods) and it's not healthy. You definitely need to suspend the TTC until your relationship is back on track, and you need to tell your DH that the pressure is off there. I wonder if that is a big factor for him?

You need to find time to go out as a couple, have dinner, re-find yourselves as a couple. It is so easy to slip into a pattern of doing nothing together except the rubbish housework and poo cleaning tasks.

Is he healthy? Not overweight? Blood pressure good etc? Has he always had a low sex drive and does he masturbate much, do you know?

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zeromojo · 13/12/2010 21:40

Yes, the message that we need to face up to it is well and truly out there now. I offered to forget about TTC but he said that wasn't a factor. Will try and talk to him more about it though, although it's hard not to get upset.

He has always had a low sex drive, we both have really which I guess is why it's dwindled so easily.

Thanks perfumed - I really hope they can help him with his sleep obsession.

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Lizzabadger · 13/12/2010 21:47

Your poor partner sounds exhausted and is probably feeling under constant pressure to act as a sperm donor for another child he doesn't feel ready for. I can understand your increasing sense of panic but I think it might be a good idea to back off from both ttc and sex for a while as it's become such a minefield. Just concentrate on being kind to each other and getting back to a relaxed relationship where he doesn't feel constantly hounded and you don't feel constantly rejected. Get the relationship back on track and the sex will follow.

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PatTheTurkeyer · 13/12/2010 21:48

Has he has his hormone levels checked?

I only ask because this sounds extremely similar to some good friends of mine. The only difference being they are meant to be trying for their first DC so he couldn't even use that as an excuse.

Turns out he was severely lacking in testosterone and is taking artificial stuff at present.


Worth a look?

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TheProvincialLady · 13/12/2010 21:50

I tried ginseng when I had a temporary low sex drive and it did help. I don't know if it has the same effect for men though.

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zeromojo · 13/12/2010 21:51

Lizza - it isn't like that. I am not lying in wait for him on Day 14 of my cycle each month in a nurse's outfit! I have been trying to generally get things back on track, I'm certainly not 'constantly hounding' him.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Off to bed now (on my own!)

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zeromojo · 13/12/2010 21:52

Thanks for your further suggestions PTT and TPL. I will get him to ask the dr about hormone levels.

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fizzfiend · 13/12/2010 21:56

Oh God been there, done that, getting divorced. Nothing worse than bracing yourself for THAT conversation, they agree to work on it and nothing happens.

Yeah, I got the "I still fancy you" line too...is that why you didn't sleep with me for 2 years? Sorry I sound bitter and twisted, but I'm not...I think men like to spin the lines for an easy life.

Def put TTC on hold. No sex marriage is a deal breaker for me....unless you are 75! He needs to put some effort in...or he's going to lose you. Sorry...I sounds a bit brusque, but I am quite angry at my DH for just ditching me. GL...Hope you get him to realise that sex with a woman he loves is actually better than half an hours sleep...and he'll sleep better afterwards.

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ChildofIsis · 13/12/2010 21:56

My DH is also a during the day man. His favourite time pre-DD was sunday am, no chance now! DD is 4 and loves early mornings.
Our sex life is infrequent too.
I've long since come to terms with having a higher sex-drive than DH. We've been together for 28 years so have had more than our fare share of sex, and arguments about frequency.

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MrsCrafty · 13/12/2010 22:04

Hey, come on, I am sure this is the disease if the last 20 years. Pressure to appear perfect, have lots of dinner parties, children happy. The house, the car, the hols and of course the job to provide this life.

It's enough to send anyone off of sex.

I realised last year that this was all very off putting for our relationship. So I stopped doing the perfect crap. I never attained much anyway. I am only just working on DH after 15 years. We have finally realised that our children are affected by the constant bickering and non cuddlyness and we are going to try to keep the bickering until after they are in bed.

Not much help but we really do love each other. We just lost our way.

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happysmiley · 13/12/2010 22:18

zeromojo, have you suggested counselling to your DH? If so what did he say?

DH and I have had similar issues and we found it very helpful. My DH sounds very much like yours in that he needs his sleep, will only have sex in the morning and would always say he was too tired. But then he would be awake enough to stay up all night watching golf. Hmm

I tried what some people have suggested here and laid off, stopped crying about and hoped that sooner or later he would admit there was a problem and maybe even initiate sex himself. It took him nearly a year and by that point I was so pissed off I had lost all interest.

Counselling has really helped. He has had to admit that our relationship was not everything it should be and he has been forced to act.

One of the major things that has come out of it is that he now realises how ridiculous it was to totally rule out sex at any time but a weekend morning. We are now even allowed to have sex on a weeknight sometimes! Shock

We have also realised how little time we used to spend together and I don't think that helped either. We can't go out for dinner all the time etc, so date nights in that sense don't work but we can make a point of spending time together in a non sexual way and sometimes that leads to something (and sometimes not). Just as an example we often go to bed early rather watching TV and use the opportunity to talk. If nothing happens, that's no problem but if we both feel like it, sometimes it does.

The other thing we do is if we go longer than a week, we note it and we both agree when we can next probably find time. And then we make sure we really do find time.

The thing you have to remember here is that your DH has to want the change too and you can only go so far on your own. My DH was only prepared to make permanent changes when he realised that as much as I loved him, I couldn't live like that for ever, and we really did have to do something about it.

I hope things work out for you. Smile

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stubbornhubby · 14/12/2010 09:03

he doesn't want another child.

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Justmeandthekids · 14/12/2010 09:35

If he is so tired that the only thing he wants to do is sleep then he needs to look after himself and stop staying up late etc...

Could you agree on

  • you stopping raising the issue of sex for a month or two
  • him taking himself to the GP to see if there is any medical reason for tiredness. Then taking any reasonable steps to get over his tiredness (eg eating well, going to bed early, gentle exercise, perhaps looking at some supplements, have a nap in the pm at the same time than your dc? etc...)


FWIW, I have been extremely tired myself, to the point that, at the end, I could not sit and play with my dcs because I would have immediately fallen asleep. I was driven enough that, if I was doing something,, i could master the energy from somewhere (So yes I could actually stay up late in the right environment). If I had been able to, I would have been in bed at the same time than the dcs (that was about 7.00~7.30pm) every night. And a bed was only for sleeping not sex!
It didn't mean I didn't love my DH or even that I didn't fancy him anymore. Just that I was exhausted (I remember fancying having sex with him but always in the middle of the day when we were both at work).
What also helped was to look at WHY I was so tired (in my case, DH was away a lot, didn't pull his weight when he was there and my standards were unnecessary high). Tackling the root cause of the tiredness also made a huge difference.
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Justmeandthekids · 14/12/2010 09:39

OP, if he has problems with sleep, then I would suggest acupuncture. A friend of mine tried for that and it did miracles (and she also had lots more energy afterwards just from being able to sleep properly again!)

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Mumfun · 14/12/2010 10:06

The testosterone thing can be a real and genuine issue. The problem is that in the UK it often isnt taken seriously. YOu might have to go to a private clinic and be aware that your GP might not have much experience/interest in the issue.

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ClareV · 14/12/2010 11:49

OP - when you talk about sleep obsession / him needing lots of sleep how much do you mean? How much does he sleep during the week and at weekends? Does he get a lie-in at all?
Would giving him as long as he needs to sleep one morning each weekend help?

You could just about be writing about me the way you describ your husband's tiredness.

Justmeandthekids - your description of how tired you feel sounds very familiar too.

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