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Why does DH not want sex ?

26 replies

Rabbitingonandon · 01/09/2023 00:09

Both late 40s. We've been estranged sexually for around 4 years. Me menopausal, him (some) ED. Both working long hours, DC. Something happened recently that has brought us back together both emotionally & sexually. Since then, Lots of cuddling, kissing, touching, sleeping naked. We've been on the verge of sex and all he has wanted to do is finger me then me wank him off. We were on the verge yet again today and he again he just wanted me to wank him off. He had an erecetion. I said to put a condom on (we've always used them) he said he didn't have any. That was a lie as I've seen the box with condoms in. I said he would need to buy some. We later went shopping (supermarket) he didn't buy any.

Why does he not want sex ? He is v embarrassed about sex and wouldn't ever discuss with me.

Could he be worried about going soft during the event ? I've told him that his ED issues don't matter. I'm miffed why he lied about the condoms and why he doesn't want sex.

OP posts:
Bluesheeps · 01/09/2023 04:11

What happened recently that changed things? Perhaps they’ve changed things more for you than him?

LizHoney · 01/09/2023 04:37

I'd think hangover from the ED. Just because you've said it doesn't matter doesn't mean he's not worrying about it. It's great you've re-established a connection. I'd take things a bit more slowly.

pastypants · 01/09/2023 05:46

Condoms could be making the Ed worse ?

MintJulia · 01/09/2023 06:04

LizHoney · 01/09/2023 04:37

I'd think hangover from the ED. Just because you've said it doesn't matter doesn't mean he's not worrying about it. It's great you've re-established a connection. I'd take things a bit more slowly.

This. ED can be devastating for a man. If he's suffering loss of confidence, take it slowly and hopefully he'll get to the point he can't help himself.

AfraidToRun · 01/09/2023 06:07

I'd sit him down and talk about it. I know you said he won't but there is nothing we can offer but speculation. Only he will know. Comfortable relationships require uncomfortable conversations.

PinkRoses1245 · 01/09/2023 06:33

As others said likely he’s nervous / lacking confidence. If you’re both enjoying what you are doing, I wouldn’t worry it’s not full sex

C1N1C · 01/09/2023 06:54

I absolutely get his fear... it's a vicious cycle of him failing one time, then him worrying that he's going to fail the next time it happens, meaning his mind isn't on enjoying it, so it fails anyway!...

Maybe be proactive... have the condom ready when he's hard and skip the foreplay... when it's hard, jump right on!

booksandbrews · 01/09/2023 07:31

I’d really recommend reading Dr Stephen Snyder’s book - he talks a lot about men ‘going missing’ in bed, and how to resolve it. Apparently it’s much more common than it ever used to be.

AuntieEsther · 01/09/2023 07:35

Nobody can really answer but honestly if you're trying to get a condom on a man who's experienced ED it's hardly surprising if he's anxious about losing it. Is there anything else you could use instead?

ittakes2 · 01/09/2023 07:43

He might not like condoms plus the ones in the draw could be out of date

Rabbitingonandon · 01/09/2023 15:38

the condoms he has are not out of date - I checked. He didn't even say ''I'll see if I have any'. His go-to answer was to straight away say '' I don't have any''. Then to not buy any while we are shopping, that same day. I'm not getting any as it is clear he doesn't want to have sex with me for whatever reason. He has wanted sex a few times while we have been estranged, but I have brushed him off. I am now offering it to him on a plate.

I'm overthinking, but all sorts of thoughts have been going through my mind:
He no longer fancies me.
He thinks I'm fat (I have huge body confidence issues, I'm about a stone heavier then I used to be. He is about 5 stone overweight, but I don't care about that as I love him/fancy him regardless).
He shagged a prostitute on a stag-do he went to about a year ago and either got or fears he may have got an STI. Very very long shot, but I still thought it.
It's all ED related.

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 01/09/2023 15:41

Woooo back up. He shagged a sex worker has in date condoms but won’t have sex with you and hasn’t for four years?

Maybe his seeing sex workers still.

Rabbitingonandon · 01/09/2023 15:47

@OhmygodDont he has shagged a sex worker that I know of. It was just one of the wild thoughts I had

OP posts:
Rabbitingonandon · 01/09/2023 16:37

*hasn't snagged a sex worker

OP posts:
OhmygodDont · 01/09/2023 16:38

Oh haha I read it wrong then. Still weird to have in date condoms if you haven’t used them for four years. Wouldn’t they be out of date.

Bobbotgegrinch · 01/09/2023 17:07

It'll be the ED. I suffer from it periodically, and while you can say it doesn't matter, it's still hugely embarrassing for the man.

For me, it's the transition from foreplay to actual penetrative sex that is the point where I'm most likely to lose my erection, and that's without putting a condom on, which isn't exactly the sexiest part of the proceedings.

So it's a huge hurdle to get past. It's the choice of either carrying on with the hand / mouth stuff, and we'll both have an orgasm and be sort of satisfied, or the alternative is try to have sex. Maybe it'll be great, maybe it'll all end with a sad trombone noise, we'll both be left unsatisfied, I'll feel I've let DP down, and worried that she's taken it as a sign I don't fancy her etc etc.

When I am dealing with this issue, there are a couple of things that help.

Men can't really tell whether they're erect without external stimulus when lying down (when stood up gravity comes into play and you can feel the weight of it)

So firstly, lights on helps a lot. Basically my brain is going "Do I still have an erection, shit I think I'm losing it, no maybe I'm not, well, not I've thought about it it's definitely gone.". If theres some illumination then I can just look down to verify and stop the intrusive thoughts.

Second, a tight grip during hand stuff. DP has a tendency to treat my penis like it's a delicate thing, despite me demonstrating to her that you can bash it about. As such she tends to have a loose grip on it. It feels good, but in the dark my brain is going, "why such a loose grip, it's because it shrinking isn't it, bloody useless thing"

I've probably given way too much info that wasn't asked for here, so I'll shut up now!

OhmygodDont · 01/09/2023 17:45

I think that was probably quite a refreshing account of the issue from a man’s perspective.

Did laugh a little at bash it around bless her she thinks she will hurt it, actually maybe she’s also worried if she’s too firm it might get hurt and then you’ll go soft. Must be awkward conversation to have at times.

Have you tried medical aids or anything or just soldering on for now.

newmama311 · 01/09/2023 20:10

Take the focus off him. Focus on you get him to focus on you. He will not be able to resist and you will be back in action

john123A · 07/09/2023 18:26

If he has any sort of erectile problems a condom is a complete no-no. If he gets hard enough to put a condom on it will be soft before he gets it on. The can be no better way to destroy his confidence.

LauraNorda · 07/09/2023 18:34

Just give him a little more time. You've just recently reconnected. Putting pressure on him now might scare him off again.

nursei · 07/09/2023 18:39

I was all for saying keep talking and show him the condoms until you said he shagged a prostitute last year! I would have sent the bastard packing after that!

itsmyp4rty · 07/09/2023 18:42

I'd guess he just wants the firmer stimulation of a hand job compared to a vagina, but is finding it very difficult to say as he doesn't want you to worry that your vagina is the issue (it isn't obviously). Also/otherwise he probably doesn't want to try sex and possibly/probably fail, he'd much rather just have a hand job and feel like he can perform.

FinallyHere · 07/09/2023 18:50

him (some) ED

This is why. What you are doing together makes sure you both orgasm and there is no risk of either of you not being capable.

I'd take turns at 'finishing' second, though.

Helenahandkart · 07/09/2023 19:19

My DH has occasional ED, and we have also been having only sporadic sex because of menopause stuff. Everything will be going fine until the moment he tries to penetrate me.
Apparently (as the chap upthread says) it’s because he’s panicking that it’ll go wrong and I’ll be left disappointed and then once he has those thoughts he can’t shake them off.
Because we have sex so infrequently now there’s a lot more pressure on each occasion.
I don’t know what the solution is but I 100% think it will be ED related and nothing at all to do with how much he fancies you.

Hawkins0009 · 08/09/2023 16:32

all the best op