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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to have sex

63 replies

AlisonL1981 · 17/07/2013 05:01

I have birth 4 months ago.
Ds was 7 weeks early.

My dad passed away 2 months ago.

I left my job, home, friends and family to moved 400 miles to live with dp 5 months ago.

Since having ds I have not wanted to have sex. Dp tried every day and I give in about once or twice a week. I'm constantly worrying when he's at home that he'll want to and I'm running out of excuses and things to do to get out of it.

I feel sorry for dp, I don't feel very close to him anymore. I don't want him touching me at all really.

Am I normal?

OP posts:
MummyWilliams · 17/07/2013 09:16

Wow! I was in this exact same position!!!

I was in a relationship for 10 years. 2 years in and we had DD I didn't feel up for sex and was constantly pressurised. I ran out of excuses, reasons and any other ways to avoid. His sulking, mis-understanding and constant pressure ruined our relationship. He made me believe there was something wrong with me, he even bought me patches off the Internet to try to increase my libido (like nicotine replacement)!!!

Initially it was just because I had, had DD, but then he completely turned me off with the constant pressure which resulted in me not loving him at all. A woman needs to feel loved and respected. The relationship broke down.

I am now in a happy relationship, which is now 5 years in and are to be married in 7 weeks.

He is the problem, not you. Remember that.

Sallyingforth · 17/07/2013 09:41

I'm going to get burned for this, but I think some of you are being just a little too hard on the guy.
Just as it's normal in the woman's position to not want sex, it's entirely normal for the man to feel frustrated when his regular sexual outlet is suddenly cut off.
OF COURSE he must defer to the woman's needs, but I think he deserves some understanding as well as being called a cunt.

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 09:48

Ask for time off, give a time-frame, as generous to you like to yourself, when you think you will be ready, so he knows not to ask until then.

Do not, as someone suggested, tell him you will let him know when you are ready. When someone is off sex, it is perfectly possible the change is permanent, in which case the choice will probably become to have sex when not in the mood, or call time on the relationship. If all he knows is that there is to be no sex "for the time being" that may well equate to "never again" in his mind.

I said be generous with the time-frame, because if you find yourself wanting to extend it when the time comes, you are obviously going to have a bit of a credibility problem.

Another point: it may be unpleasant to be pestered, but if he is being constantly rejected, that feeling of being unwanted is extremely corrosive to the emotional bond. IMO (biased I suppose) it's actually more damaging than your feeling of being pressurised. It would actually be much better for him for there to be a period of abstinence than to be regularly rejected.

trapezegirl · 17/07/2013 09:58

"Just as it's normal in the woman's position to not want sex, it's entirely normal for the man to feel frustrated when his regular sexual outlet is suddenly cut off. "

It is NOT normal to react by pestering the OP every day.

Can I suggest couples therapy?

YoniBottsBumgina · 17/07/2013 10:06

FFS! Seriously? OP has had a hell of a lot on her plate. An international move when heavily pregnant, coping with a newborn - her first - away from her own friends and family support, the physical recovery from birth, possibly having just given birth in a country where she doesn't speak the language, and she is bereaved as well.

It is in no way her responsibility to be telling her "D"H when he can expect sex again right now. She doesn't know, and why should she? Nobody has the right to another person's body.

He would possibly have some of my sympathy if he could go longer than a fucking day without pressurising OP with some bollocks about how he wants it to be nice for her Confused It's not nice to feel frustrated, but seriously, does he have no compassion or respect or empathy at all?

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 10:29

Sallyforth's post has encourage me to comment on his flaming.

Yes cooking dinner, giving sexual pleasure, being nice generally are all tactics aimed at getting his penis into a vagina. If you find this creepy, you have a problem, because the willingness of men to do humongous amounts shit and do almost anything to please a women is so that penis-in-vagina happens; it is the whole the basis of male-female relationships. For a man, children, companionship, shared finances, socialising with your family/friends, even talking to you, are all just optional furniture of the relationship, penis-in-vagina is the house.

He really didn't marry you because of your shared interest in model trains, or support for the same football team. He may love his children, but he would probably be equally happy, in a different way, if he didn't have them. I can't imagine a man saying (like a infertile woman I've heard) that if they can't have children, they might as well die now.

Tell a man that he only gets penis-in-vagina if he does a rain-dance on the lawn while dressed as Batman, and he will be googling costume-hire shops before you can finish the sentence.

(Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. The number of threads on here where women seem to regard sex as unnecessary irritation makes me think we are truly different species. Don't mean to imply that someone is not allowed time off in special circumstances.)

Suelford · 17/07/2013 10:37

Have you actually asked him not to initiate anything for a month or two? Your OP says you are using excuses and activities to avoid it, rather than just outright explaining it.

Sunnysummer · 17/07/2013 10:37

LondonMan's suggestion of a timeframe sounds very sensible, also the suggestion of spending time cuddling with sex officially off the agenda.

You definitely shouldn't have to feel so pressured for sax. But from your description, and from my recent experiences with my DH, I wonder of its also that he's someone happier with action than with words, and that he sees how unhappy you are (and is probably also pretty overwhelmed himself, even though what you're going through is even more intense) and it trying to either fix it or make things back to normal.

Mothers groups are not always bad even for non-group people, mine has been sanity saving! Or are you able to get a family member or maternity nurse to look after your baby for a night while the two of you spend some time together?

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 10:40

Nobody has the right to another person's body.

Perfectly true, but if access ceases permanently the relationship is almost certainly over. If it ceases at all, it's quite important to know that it's not permanent. I have read several cases where someone gets sick of being rejected and says "let me know when you are ready", and the outcome is that couple never has sex again, because the loss of appetite was in fact permanent.

BeerTricksPotter · 17/07/2013 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 10:55

To answer OPs question, I think you are normal, this isn't your fault. Not having an appetite is never anyone's fault, all you can control is how you deal with it.

Explain your reasons and ask to be left alone for however many months you think you'll need. Think what you are going to do if your appetite doesn't return.

I've read a school of thought that says that to regain appetite, women sometimes have to just get back into the swing, i.e. do sex regardless of mood. Obviously I can't comment from experience, I'm sceptical of how often that works, maybe keep that as a backup strategy for the end of your time off.

BeerTricksPotter · 17/07/2013 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 11:01

A decent man will wait. A decent man will talk to his partner and not put pressure on her. It's the difference between seeing women as people, not just there to service their sexual needs.

I entirely agree that a decent man will wait. On a point of pedantry however...

mythical Blue Balls Syndrome

when researching testicle pain, I came across this as recognised medical problem, so you are wrong to use the word mythical. (As a medical condition, obviously a wank is all that is required to relieve it.)

TantrumsAndBalloons · 17/07/2013 11:03

Why? Why the a tual fuck should a woman have sex if she clearly isn't in the mood, in the tiny hope she might enjoy it while its going on?

And who on earth would want to have sex with a person who has stated very clearly that she doesn't want it?

Why would that be enjoyable sex? "Oh I know you don't want to but let's just try, you might like it"
Or, more likely you wont like it. And you will feel used.

Why is that an appealing scenario?

Sallyingforth · 17/07/2013 11:15

It is NOT normal to react by pestering the OP every day.
trapezegirl (and others).
It certainly isn't, and I never said it was.

I expected criticism for having any sympathy for the guy, but ffs please stick to what I actually said rather than what I didn't.

OF COURSE he must defer to the woman's needs, but I think he deserves some understanding as well as being called a cunt.

Dahlen · 17/07/2013 11:15

OP, we don't know your DH so it's impossible to know if he's a borderline abusive sex pest or a loving husband who fears he may lose you for good unless he can kickstart your love life again. Doesn't matter what we think anyway, what you think is what counts.

Are you able to get a babysitter? If so, I'd recommend going out for a meal. But if that's not an option, maybe try an M&S Dine in for Two meal or something. What you need is an activity where you can sit down and focus exclusively on each other but in a non-confrontational way with the opportunity to take a minute to think before speaking (by looking at your plate, chewing on food, drinking wine etc). If you can do this out, so much the better, because it will keep both of you on best behaviour, but it's not vital.

You need a full and frank discussion about this. It all needs to come out. Neither one of you is a mind reader and human beings are great at wildly misinterpreting each other's behaviour when emotions are involved. The only way to counteract this is honesty.

I'd sit him down and say you don't feel like sex at all. Tell him you are really sorry if that makes him feel rejected because you love him and don't want him to feel like that, but if you force yourself to go through the motions you will kill your marriage because you will come to resent him. Tell him this is why you reject his affection - because you are scared it will lead to a situation where you have to reject him which will simply leave both of you feeling like shit. Tell him that you don't want to feel like this but that you need his help to resolve it.

Tell him that to resolve it, you need to establish where it is coming from. Then talk to him about the fact that you've lost your friends and family and feel isolated. You had a traumatic birth that you've not yet come to terms with and you're struggling to adjust to life as a mum because you don't have the support from family and friends because you're so isolated. Explain that right now you feel like an exhausted struggling mother whose lost her life and her identity, not a carefree woman with a life of her own who embraces life and love and can express it physically through sex.

Then tell him how you want to recapture those feelings. That may mean him having your child more so you can go out to a gym class or take up some sort of hobby just for you - something that is unconnected to your DH or your DD. Maybe think about returning to work. Think about something you can do with your DH that is fun but can't possibly lead to sex because it is out of the home environment and suggest doing that. Say you need to recapture the sense of fun and adventure in your own life in particular but your relationship as well, and that if you can do that you will probably find your libido returning. Happy, vibrant people have more sex.

The listen to his response. If he gets defensive, tries to blame you in any way, thinks you "need to get over it" or that he already does everything he can and you should make more of an effort for him, you have your answer as to whether he's an abusive sex pest or a frustrated-but-loving husband. If he says he understands, agrees to back off and helps plan your solution to this, he's a good DH.

Hope you get things back on track.

LondonMan · 17/07/2013 11:19

If that 'mood' is not wanting to have sex then that's rape. You do realise that?

I have heard that said here, many times. It's complete bollocks. Lack of desire does not equal lack of consent. And, to anticipate the next reply, justifiable belief that sex is necessary to maintain a relationship does not amount to coercion.

I have had sex plenty of times when I wasn't in the mood, when my wife was trying to get pregnant. It wasn't rape/sexual assault on her part.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying anyone has to do sex if they don't desire it. I am saying that there may in the long-term a choice to be made between being accommodating and (probably) ending the relationship. It's nobody's fault if this choice has to be made, it's the person who has lost desire who makes the choice about sex, and the frustrated partner who has to decide whether to walk away.

Anyway, this is all a bit doom-and-gloom, hopefully the OP problem is temporary.

AlisonL1981 · 17/07/2013 11:41

Thank you ladies, and londonman. I need to talk to him properly. I don't want to and I don't know why is clearly irritating us both. You have given me the words I was struggling to find.

OP posts:
MyMelody · 17/07/2013 11:48

londonman, its quite sad that is your take on all relationships, I think you are totally wrong. maybe everything you do for your wife is so you can have sex but totally wrong of you to tar the entire male population with that brush.

Lazyjaney · 17/07/2013 11:59

Lack of desire does not equal lack of consent. And, to anticipate the next reply, justifiable belief that sex is necessary to maintain a relationship does not amount to coercion

The MN mantra is the man must wait for as long as the woman wants, and never utter a word of complaint. (I note the reverse case on MN has the opposite rules btw, the man usually has to shape up or she should LTB)

RL doesn't work the MN way.

In RL the MN reverse case is truer - if one person stops having sex in a relationship, without giving any clear idea of why or when it will return, then that relationship starts to enter difficult times.

It's an inconvenient truth to utter on MN, but it's still a truth.

WallaceWindsock · 17/07/2013 12:04

LondonMan if I had the slightest inkling that every time DP pulls his weight with our family and home, it was to get sex I would be out the door faster than lightening. DP and I have had long long periods where sex hasn't happened due to medical issues. At the time we had no idea whether those issues would improve or be permanent. He stayed with me, he did things with the kids, around the house, looked after me and was a rock. Things are thankfully all ok again now and we have a good sex life. DPs level of involvement with DC, the house and our relationship has remained a constant and I know he would strongly disagree with your viewpoint. So please consider that you are projecting your personal feelings onto the entire male population.

MyMelody · 17/07/2013 12:07

well said wallace

Dahlen · 17/07/2013 12:16

I think that's hugely simplistic TBH.

Long-term abstinence of sex (unless agreed to willingly by both) will put a huge strain on a relationship, and it is just as unfair for one partner to refuse to acknowledge that as it is for another to show off about its disappearance.

Short-term is different. Even healthy relationships have periods of sex drought because of illness, stress, too much going on, etc. It has to be watched to ensure it doesn't become a habit that can eat away at things, but it's normal and doesn't signify anything in itself.

Short-term within a few months of a baby being born is perfectly normal. Anyone who thinks a man's right to sex trumps a woman's right to physically and mentally heal is a fool.

If sex (or the lack of) is becoming an issue, the first response should always be some time to allow normal relationships to resume naturally, as they often will. The second response should be to facilitate that without being asked - kindness and consideration, romantic meals without the pressure to DTD, etc. The third should be to instigate a no-pressure but two-way conversation about it. After that, it becomes a question of compatibility. A person has the right to leave a relationship because of lack of sex just as much as a person has the right to keep their body to themselves.

HotCrossPun · 17/07/2013 12:21

LondonMan Your view point would be laughable if it wasn't so depressing.

You may operate on a level where you do housework, feign interest in your wife purely to get 'penis in vagina,' but don't be so insulting and naïve as to think that this is the default attitude of all men.

You have waltzed onto this thread with an air of 'listen up ladies, I have a penis, and I therefor speak for all people with penises'

It's rubbish. My DP does housework because he hates mess and I'm a slattern we spend time talking to each other because (shock) we actually like each other. We have sex when we both want to. When either of us doesn't - we don't.

Adults don't sulk, they don't pressurise, and they don't make a bereaved new mother feel bad when she doesn't want to lie back and go through the motions of having sex when she has absolutely no desire to do so.

Dahlen · 17/07/2013 12:30

I think LondonMan was being deliberately provocative to make his point.

If men see women purely as someone to have sex with, that would make all women interchangeable. Why would any man bother to go to the trouble of marriage, children, fixing the kitchen or dancing on the lawn in a batman costume when he could just have sex with any woman he fancied for far less effort and a lot more fun.

Some men (and some women for that matter) do see women as interchangeable sex objects of course. They are known as misogynistic fuckwits.

But most have emotions and desires the same as women, including love, which is why they do things for the women in their lives. They may be hoping that regular sex will be part of the trade off for this (in the sense that all human relationships can be argued to be a trade off), but it's not the reason per se that they are doing it.

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