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DH booking Thai massage

214 replies

namechange811 · 22/01/2025 20:21

Context is my DH and I have had marriage troubles, and saw a really good couples therapist 2023-24 who helped us really understand our issues under the surface - both had difficult upbringings. We have a 4yo and I had a difficult birth in Covid and we also had money worries and no wider family to help - so things got fractured for a while. Sex stopped happening mainly as I didn't feel up to it, even after I'd healed from the birth and ever since. He was emotionally distant and I was physically distant.

During the bad patch when we were arguing, he would use OnlyFans to watch live things and get himself off. It was gross and I expressed how much I hated it. But at the same time I did understand that he was massively frustrated as I wasn't having sex with him.

Anyway fast forward and things have been much better and we've been emotionally closer and more understanding even though external challenges have continued. We have felt more of a team and we don't really argue anymore. However, the sex still hasn't started up again properly, bar the occasional quick thing, but very rare.

I want to work on it but feel after so much has happened I don't know where to start, and also a lot of my issues around tiredness, body image, lack of confidence have remained, so I have no libido.

In the meantime I'm pretty sure DH looks at Pornhub, and he's obviously really sexually frustrated which I get, and I've seen him looking at Netflix shows with sexy women in, and women online (daily mail sidebar of shame) and just a lot of the time during his down time. Basically I feel like he has sex on the brain and is really frustrated.

Aaanyway, today I used DH's phone whilst he was doing DC bedtime because my battery had died. His browser was open on a page showing he had either booked or tried booking a "Thai Massage", while at work today in the City. I then looked at his history and saw he had googled Thai massage in the City of London before locating a booking site which seemed like a legit booking site for treatments etc.

I'm confused and feeling depressed about this. I don't know if he went or just tried to book. He doesn't get massages by the way, ever. And so if he suddenly went randomly for a massage and it was innocent he would have told me right? Was he going out of a sexual reason to get a thrill? I assume these were legit places but his rationale I don't trust was straightforward massage.

I don't know what to say or do? If I ask him it looks like I snooped (which I did) and would break his trust altogether - what's left of it.

How should I proceed?

OP posts:
Itrytobesensible · 22/01/2025 20:45

Seems to me you have given your DH carte blanche to seek his sexual fulfillment from other women: you seem so accepting of him using Only Fans, porn, perving on women in films. This massage seems part of a natural progression towards using sex workers, idmf he hasn't already.
Personally I don't see your marriage getting back on track when he is obviously willing to seek sex outside of it.

namechange811 · 22/01/2025 20:51

It's difficult when I've either sex essentially for so long. I don't like porn but I get that realistically many men look at it and still have happy relationships.

OP posts:
namechange811 · 22/01/2025 20:51

Not sure what to do now though?

OP posts:
Jobsharenightmare · 22/01/2025 20:56

I definitely wouldn't have sex with him without getting an std test and would suggest to him you go back to couples therapy to talk about your sex life. Hopefully he'll then tell you he booked it and never went ahead etc off his own back. If he works in the city I'd be concerned he's been using sex workers given what you've posted.

namechange811 · 22/01/2025 20:57

And I I leave it tonight then I don't know how I'll have an opportunity to raise it and I'll never know?

OP posts:
Saltyseedling · 22/01/2025 21:01

You definitely need to LTB

Itrytobesensible · 22/01/2025 21:05

It reads to me that you only have 2 options OP: either you put up with him seeking sex outside your relationship or you end the marriage.

MathsMagpie · 22/01/2025 21:09

That would be a dealbreaker for me but so would the supporting sexual exploitation through porn. I'd be gone, sorry OP.

coxesorangepippin · 22/01/2025 21:12

God these men are just gross

Ugh

Tiniesttine · 22/01/2025 21:13

@namechange811 you do know that a Thai massage is a legitimate form of massage therapy?! And that it’s done fully clothed!!!

namechange811 · 22/01/2025 21:14

Why LTB? For booking or looking up Thai Massage or watching porn?

OP posts:
namechange811 · 22/01/2025 21:15

Itrytobesensible · 22/01/2025 21:05

It reads to me that you only have 2 options OP: either you put up with him seeking sex outside your relationship or you end the marriage.

He hasn't had sex outside the marriage. And I don't want things to get that bad hence wondering what I can do now.

OP posts:
Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 22/01/2025 21:16

I don’t know if you’d feel comfortable doing this but I suggest booking a non sexual massage yourself to release tension and stress if you can afford it, you need it more than him if your libido is gone from what sounds like depression

UnbelievableLie · 22/01/2025 21:16

It must be another paranoid MN thing I've never heard of as I get Thai massages regularly & it never crossed my mind that it's a brothel in disguise. In fact a (female) friend introduced me to them a few years back as she's also a big fan.

Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 22/01/2025 21:16

Tiniesttine · 22/01/2025 21:13

@namechange811 you do know that a Thai massage is a legitimate form of massage therapy?! And that it’s done fully clothed!!!

Then he would have mentioned it

raysan · 22/01/2025 21:17

I'd assume the massage is legit but talk about the other stuff.
Maybe you have no libido as he objectifies women when it comes to sex, snd you don't feel like being his sex doll?
Does he make you feel safe, relaxed, loved and attractive?

Ohnonotmeagain · 22/01/2025 21:17

Do you know what Thai massage is?

it’s passive stretching, and done fully clothed.

so the therapist will use body weight to move your body through it’s range of movement. Basically really good stretches. I was a dancer and had them regularly as it’s a really good way or stretching to your limit while relaxing the muscles and avoiding tightness.

it’s not oils, nakedness and rubbing.

MidnightPatrol · 22/01/2025 21:17

Are you sure he wasn’t just going for a massage?

A massage isn’t automatically sexual.

If I saw my DH had gone for a Thai Massage, I’d assume he had a sore back or something.

Simonjt · 22/01/2025 21:17

Thai massage is a thing, its also done fully clothed.

Is this yet another thread on mumsnet to encourage racism?

2025willbemytime · 22/01/2025 21:18

I know it is a bit sneaky but the ends might justify the means. Say you've heard about Thai massages and you wondered if it's something you could do as a couple. If it's innocent he should say he's had one.

YouZirName · 22/01/2025 21:19

As unpopular as I'm sure it'll be to say - you have to be realistic OP. He doesn't deserve to live in a sex less marriage, at some point if he's not having sex with you he's likely to go elsewhere for it.

LightCameraBitchSmile · 22/01/2025 21:20

Why are we all pretending that there's no overlap between some massage parlours and the sex trade?

What's more likely - a man who never gets massages and is sexually frustrated just fancied some 'passive stretching' and kept it a secret, or he was looking for sex?

namechange811 · 22/01/2025 21:21

raysan · 22/01/2025 21:17

I'd assume the massage is legit but talk about the other stuff.
Maybe you have no libido as he objectifies women when it comes to sex, snd you don't feel like being his sex doll?
Does he make you feel safe, relaxed, loved and attractive?

Yes that's helpful, thank you. I think that contributes to it.

Re the Thai massage. To clarify I know they are a legit thing. But I know my husband and he would not go googling that innocently wanting an actual massage, and if he did suddenly start having massages in the middle of the working day he would tell me. I'm not saying he was looking for a sex worker. More that he probably fancied the idea of being massaged by a Thai lady who's (politely and professionally) looking like she's happy to place her hands on him. (Which is what he is missing with me).

OP posts:
2025ohdear · 22/01/2025 21:22

I get a Thai massage once a month. It can be quite painful with the stretching and working muscles. Nothing even remotely sexual or sensual about it.

Speak to him, Op. Talk.

Ohnonotmeagain · 22/01/2025 21:22

LightCameraBitchSmile · 22/01/2025 21:20

Why are we all pretending that there's no overlap between some massage parlours and the sex trade?

What's more likely - a man who never gets massages and is sexually frustrated just fancied some 'passive stretching' and kept it a secret, or he was looking for sex?

He wouldn’t be looking for a Thai massage then. It’s about as unsexy as it gets.

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