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AIBU?

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Lack of intimacy and stomach problems.

115 replies

tillylula · 17/02/2026 13:54

My husband said to me the other day he keeps seeing posts on social media about how a lack of intimacy can cause stomach problems for men (which he has been getting). He asked if i had been getting them too, or anything along the lines of how important intimacy is. I know it is.

I gave birth to our 4th child just over 3 weeks ago. Towards the end of the pregnancy i was having a lot of pain, braxton hicks and i also had thrush all the way through the pregnancy. We did have sex throughout but the last month i dont think we did anything because i was just too uncomfortable. I did him a few times before baby arrived but since his arrival ive been more focused on surviving the newborn days with a 6, 4 & 2 year old also.

Is there any truth behind the claims or is he pulling my leg?

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Bleddyrain · 17/02/2026 20:23

Another post to make me feel very glad I'm not with that man 🤮🤮

He's subtly but totally manipulating you and you've fallen for it x

tillylula · 17/02/2026 20:05

Parsleyforme · 17/02/2026 19:31

I find it quite funny that he asked whether you’ve seen any posts too, when what you see on social media can be influenced by what you’re googling and is also generally gender specific. My boyfriend was once convinced he had low testosterone based on SM posts/ads but I obviously was not also being shown content about low testosterone in men

He works in IT so you think hed know that.. 🤣

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LadyCrustybread · 17/02/2026 19:38

Also he doesn’t have penis needs. He has DESIRES. Needs and desires aren’t the same thing. You don’t die withoutsex so it isn’t a need

NotThisAgain1987 · 17/02/2026 19:34

Parsleyforme · 17/02/2026 19:31

I find it quite funny that he asked whether you’ve seen any posts too, when what you see on social media can be influenced by what you’re googling and is also generally gender specific. My boyfriend was once convinced he had low testosterone based on SM posts/ads but I obviously was not also being shown content about low testosterone in men

SM convinced me I have several deadly diseases daily and on deaths door. But it's just learnt I have health anxiety and Google symptoms a fair bit

NotThisAgain1987 · 17/02/2026 19:33

tillylula · 17/02/2026 14:05

He did say there is no pressure to have sex and i can wait til i feel ready. I said intimacy can be spending time together and cuddling but in the articles it says that it has to be actual sex

I read an article you have to give me all your money. Cash, bank transfer doesn't work. That's about as believable as his stomach issues.

Not only is he being an absolute prick but he's interrupting the bonding with your baby which is a biological process and can have really stressful consequences if it doesn't happen. Also if he had an ounce of common sense he'd realise people feel sexier and ready to be intermate when they aren't overwhelmed and stressed

Parsleyforme · 17/02/2026 19:31

I find it quite funny that he asked whether you’ve seen any posts too, when what you see on social media can be influenced by what you’re googling and is also generally gender specific. My boyfriend was once convinced he had low testosterone based on SM posts/ads but I obviously was not also being shown content about low testosterone in men

Ilovelurchers · 17/02/2026 19:08

Good God, what an idiot!

My ex husband once told me lack of sex made his balls hurt - I told him to have a wank! He often quoted this afterwards as evidence of my cruel nature....

OBVIOUSLY lack of sex does not cause any physical symptoms - he's insulting your intelligence by spouting this garbage.

Tell him he is welcome to masturbate if he feels sexually frustrated, and to leave you the fuck alone. YES, over time a lack of sexual intimacy does need to be addressed in a relationship if one or both partners are made unhappy by it - but at just three weeks post-partum this is NOT the time to be worrying about such things.

Frankly he needs to grow up! If he is ordinarily an ok bloke, maybe the stress of a newborn is getting to him? But even if that's the case, he's a big boy, he needs to take steps to help himself, not badger his poor wife for sexual release by spouting nonsense.

Congratulations by the way!

ThreeTescoBags · 17/02/2026 18:59

The good thing about getting the snip is that he'd be medically required to wank himself dry many times over. No more poorly tummy and no more babies. Plus he seems like a terrific wanker, it really is all upside for him!

tillylula · 17/02/2026 18:56

LadyCrustybread · 17/02/2026 18:44

He’s lying to you. And it’s abusive. You are only 3 weeks PP it is not safe to have sex yet. DH and I are on month 7 without sex because of a severe health condition… his stomach feels just fine.

I did say im still bleeding. And my stomach is still fine with the lack of sex 🙃

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Screamingabdabz · 17/02/2026 18:51

“He wont get the snip.”

No sex then.

LadyCrustybread · 17/02/2026 18:47

@tillylulaif you didn’t want to be near a penis for most of your pregnancy why did you have sex with him for 8 months of it? You don’t owe him sex that you don’t want just because you’re married.

LadyCrustybread · 17/02/2026 18:44

He’s lying to you. And it’s abusive. You are only 3 weeks PP it is not safe to have sex yet. DH and I are on month 7 without sex because of a severe health condition… his stomach feels just fine.

Vaxtable · 17/02/2026 18:41

Stick into chat gpt can lack of sex cause stomach problems. The answer is no but stress emotions etc can play a part

I would be telling him to do one. He wants to try squeezing something like a melon out of a hole the size of a ping pong ball and see how up do sex he would be after.

horrible puts you right off

parthyphibday · 17/02/2026 18:36

Theonlywayicanloveyou · 17/02/2026 18:27

I accidentally hit YABU - but you most certainly are not. Whatever stomach issues he’s having, you’re going through postnatal which is 100 times worse. Tell him to fucking educate himself. How old is he, 12?

You might know this already, but some don't - you can change your vote to the other option just by clicking on the bar (where it shows e.g 94% YANBU - just click on that).

It's not very obvious (though apologies if you already knew).

Theonlywayicanloveyou · 17/02/2026 18:27

I accidentally hit YABU - but you most certainly are not. Whatever stomach issues he’s having, you’re going through postnatal which is 100 times worse. Tell him to fucking educate himself. How old is he, 12?

TalulahJP · 17/02/2026 18:26

bog roll

TalulahJP · 17/02/2026 18:25

tillylula · 17/02/2026 16:48

He wont get the snip.

Im really overwhelmed with the responses. Thank you everyone. I thought it was abit unfair on him to have to sort himself out for so long, im abit of a mug arent i?! 😆

he wont. hurrumph

oh well i’d be saying “your body your choice”.

flowed by “i therefore choose to never have sex again because i’m not risking getting pregnant and my body has been through enough to want operated on thank you very much. here’s a big roll and lube. enjoy”

tillylula · 17/02/2026 18:24

Tacohill · 17/02/2026 17:37

I understand why you needed that reassurance but the reality is that you shouldn’t have to ask a bunch of strangers whether your DP, the father of your child, is trying to manipulate you because he thinks you’re so gullible or tired to fall for it.

You are acting like he has higher sexual needs just because he has a penis.

I am assuming that in the month before you gave birth and didn’t want sex, that he still regularly gave you oral sex and used his hands/toys to pleasure you, even if he got nothing in return?

I had nothing because i didnt want anything, and still dont! Like another poster said, i dont want to be in the same postcode as a penis right now, and didnt through most of the pregnancy either

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tillylula · 17/02/2026 18:21

I make light of it because if i dont laugh i will cry 😅

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LoftyAmberLion · 17/02/2026 18:13

And he’s clearly a sex pest.

LoftyAmberLion · 17/02/2026 18:12

OP you have very young children no way should it be you getting your tubes tied it needs to be him
having a vasectomy ASAP. I told my DH I was not having sex with him again unless he had it. We had 4 kids by this point and I was not having another!

borborygmus1 · 17/02/2026 18:12

Can he explain the physiological process where lack of sexual activity could cause abdominal issues? No? I thought not.

Any gastroenterologists in the house want to take this one?

usedtobeaylis · 17/02/2026 18:11

Him saying he's not pressuring you doesn't make that the case. He is trying to manipulate you.

Solost92 · 17/02/2026 18:09

Also, any man that won't get the snip after his wife has birthed 4 of his children is a bellend.

Solost92 · 17/02/2026 18:06

"No pressure but you're making me ill by not having sex with me" tell him to go hump his pillow with a fleshlight tucked in it and sod off. 4 kids incl. A newborn and he's whining about not getting laid.