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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want more sex

524 replies

Billiam · 01/01/2014 10:52

Lately DH and me have not had much sex. His libido is much lower than mine. Last couple of years his interest dropped to nothing. Talked lots and things have got better, but he said he did not want to feel he had to have sex a certain amount. But be said he would like it maybe once a month. Not enough for me, but I don't feel I can say this because it sounds like I am asking for a rota. Don't understand how he can know how often he will want it. I am afraid he just doesn't really want it at all but has decided he has to and has chosen a number he can put up with. Aibu

OP posts:
Spink · 06/01/2014 15:56

It's crap that it isn't acknowledged as an equal split in society, that women who are asking for more sex can be seen as unusual or even freaky.

Writerwannabe83 · 06/01/2014 15:56

estrellita - it fascinates me the way in which a relationship can be perceived as so perfect by others when in reality it is just a nightmare. People really don't know what goes on behind closed doors do they. It's scary sometimes to think how insular people can become by pretending to everyone that their life is something it isn't - no wonder we have all felt so lonely at times. Pretending everything is 'normal' is draining.

Darkesteyes · 06/01/2014 16:36

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SpinkMon 06-Jan-14 15:56:21

It's crap that it isn't acknowledged as an equal split in society, that women who are asking for more sex can be seen as unusual or even freaky

Or end up getting slut shamed. See thats something that feeds into this. We are in 2014 and female sexuality is still seen as something to be ashamed of.

Notputtingupwithanyonescrap · 06/01/2014 16:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Darkesteyes · 06/01/2014 17:14

Looks like the rules in the CBB house are seriously lax this year. They have allowed Jim Davidson to take his iphone in!

Writerwannabe83 · 06/01/2014 17:15
Grin
Purplemonster · 06/01/2014 17:42

What is the obsession with women's weight? My DP has put a hell of a lot more weight on than I have in the 4 years we've been together. He's really quite fat, I'm slightly wobbly around the middle because I just had a baby so why am I the one than needs to lose weight?

Purplemonster · 06/01/2014 17:42

Oh and well done Writer Wink very pleased for you

Writerwannabe83 · 06/01/2014 17:44

Lol, prior to pregnancy I was just under 9 stone whereas my husband is over 13. He definitely has more wobbly bits than me - breasts excluded of course Grin

MrsLouisTheroux · 06/01/2014 17:47

You just keep knocking yourself out in the shower Notputtingupwith
I doubt very much your wife/partner is on here complaining that you don't have sex with her. I'm sure it's a blessed relief if you 'entertain' yourself. Assuming you have a wife/partner that is and don't live alone...

Coconutty · 06/01/2014 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

badgeroncaffeine · 06/01/2014 18:42

womblesofwestminster Mon 06-Jan-14 11:01:22
Spink in the study you linked to, "partner attractiveness" was given as a reason. Maybe men really are as shallow as badger. confused

Of course women never consider "attractiveness" in a partner do they wombles?
D'oh!

Writerwannabe83 · 06/01/2014 18:45

Thanks coconutty - I got my kiss when he came home from work too! I leapt up and jumped on him. Afterwards he said, "What's wrong with you?" I asked what he meant and he said, "You never normally give me a kiss when I come home and today I get that??!" - and he said it in a happy way. Also, has anyone see the film Love Actually? You know the bit at the end when Hugh Grant is at the airport and his girlfriend meets him at the gate and absolutely runs at him and lunges herself into his arms? Me and DH watched that over Christmas and he actually passed comment about it, saying he would love it if I greeted him like that.

Maybe my DH isn't as distant as I imagine him to be - maybe making more of an effort to do the 'little things' (and I mean from both of us) might help bring some spark into our relationship again.

Coconutty · 06/01/2014 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spink · 06/01/2014 19:18

Smile Writer that made me grin

Writerwannabe83 · 06/01/2014 20:18

spink - due to pregnancy weight gain I think we'd both go flying now if I lunged myself at him Grin

He's actually been more affectionate to me this evening, kisses on the cheek when he passes me, lots of "love you"'s, he came up behind me and gave me a hug when I was washing up etc. I made a point of lying down with him on the sofa too when he came home whereas normally he has his chair and I have mine.

Reading this thread has done wonders for me as although it has made me upset to realise a lot of women are in this situation and upset to have to acknowledge just how dysfunctional things are, but at the same time it has empowered me to face it head on and take charge.

I remember once, when DH and had been together a few months, we were just watching TV when suddenly he came over to me, picked me up, carried me up the stairs to the bedroom and we had crazy sex. It was just so 'Tarzan and Jane' like, I loved it. We used to have sex in the kitchen, on the living room floor, on the sofa etc. I refuse to believe all that has gone. Things have completely changed, like I said, sex 4 times in 15 months is a million miles away from what we had, but I'm not prepared to bury my head in the sand anymore.

Biedronka · 06/01/2014 23:23

writer I'm so glad you had success ;) and I hope it continues.

I'm feeling rather fecked off and confused today :(
Dp and I had a few drinks, relaxing and the usual cuddles etc.... he seemed more warm to me and threw a few signals that he was in the mood. I froze, made an excuse and moved from the sofa - I WASN'T FEELING IT :(
I feel quite angry with myself really. As I explained in a previous post I know I've became a bit numb regarding sex and today I just felt that HE is possibly sick of wanking so wanted the real thing but I won't allow myself be hanging around waiting for scraps, as and when he deems fit - hope that makes sense.
Then on the other hand I felt guilty for feeling that way. Kind of like - the poor sod can't do right for doing wrong.

I'm not sure I can see a remedy to this situation and that makes me so sad.

Writerwannabe83 · 07/01/2014 11:09

How did your DP react when you moved away from him? Did he look hurt?

Sometimes I would get nervous if my DH appeared to be trying to initiate sex, probably because I had lost all confidence in myself. The voice was always there in the back of my head, asking 'Why does he want this now?' just because of how unnatural it felt.

As good as it felt to have sex the other night, it took a while to go from the seductively stroking/erection stage to actually passionately kissing each other, again, just because of how it doesn't come naturally to us anymore. Random snogs just aren't part of our relationship. But I'm still hoping yo change that. It's just such a minefield.

cherrytree63 · 07/01/2014 12:18

I completely identify with Biedronka, I too have pushed OH away when he has seemed "in the mood". I get really mixed feelings about it all, sod you when you want it when you don't care about me, and the only way I can control anything about our sex life is to say no, but then think if I turn this down how long will it be before another opportunity arises?

I've been thinking long and hard (pardon the pun) about our situation since reading this thread. OH does have problems with intimacy... he does not like "snogging". When, at the beginning, we were having loads of good sex I realised that nearly every time was when he came home from the pub after several pints. I did say to him that it wasn't very complimentary as I felt he needed his beer goggles on to shag me! So he said he wouldn't do it at all if he'd been drinking and that around the time the problems started. Looking back, I think I should have been thinking more along the lines of Dutch courage, rather than beer goggles...

Although he is never the type to say "woe is me, I've had all these bad times", I have pieced together over the years that he had a childhood that was verging on abusive. Punished for being bad (physical punishment without grading for severity of crime, spilled milk/broken window equally punished), and ignoring good behaviour.

His last relationship was with someone I knew, who is a total bitch to people unless she's getting something from them... she will sleep with people to get favours, and was doing this while they were together.

At times OH reminds me of a child being bullied in the playground, shouting "didn't hurt, don't care" at his attackers... hence his seemingly impassive behaviour when I admitted to my fling.

As I said upthread we did go to one session of counselling together, after a brief summary of our problems, she focused on OH. He said he felt he was being picked on, and wouldn't return. Now I can't remember much of what was said, but something has stuck with me all these years which I didn't understand at the time, but has just started to make sense to me...

The counselor turned to me and said "next week we'll focus on you, and I'll explain why you are in control of this problem".

What I now understand is this; it is my house that he lives in. I pay all the bills. I do not need him (or anyone else) to live my life.
Although I do not throw my weight around, and I'm very generous with everyone I love, I actually think that deep down he is very insecure about his position in my life. (his first two serious girlfriends just upped and left him with no explanation). However he does not talk about his feelings and I waiver between thinking he doesn't actually have any (in a what I can't see I find hard to believe sort of way) and thinking he bottles it all up. He never ever verbally starts a row, I'm the big mouth one, but I do think that I kick off in re-action to his actions/inactions.

After I first posted on here on Friday I wanted to talk to him, but he immediately got defensive, then I got angry, then we had a very ugly row that just went round and round in circles. The row simmered on all weekend and we barely spoke to each other.

Yesterday I was having a bit of a snoop on the internet history... no porn, but he's been looking at stuff about male low libido. And a relationship advice site!

And last night.... we DTD!! Woohooooooo! Grin

I enjoyed it... but I have no idea how he feels about it, I'm not going to spoil my post coital glow yet!

Writerwannabe83 · 07/01/2014 12:24

Yay cherry - what a really, really, really lovely ending to your post!! It was the last thing I was expecting to read! I was happy for you just reading about the browser history you found but to then read about the sex too!! Wow - brilliant!!! Grin

You're in the same boat as me now.....when do we try it again? Lol Grin

Biedronka · 07/01/2014 12:33

Immediately he didn't look hurt, no.
Later on though he was holding my hand and launched into - do I know how much he loves me, how he doesn't want to be without me, I'm the best GF he's ever had Confused, he'd do anything for me etc.etc.

So I know he felt something was wrong. Usually I would of came out all guns blazing and had it out with him AGAIN but you're so right - It is a minefield and it did feel unnatural :(
Those were just words and we all know ACTIONS speak louder.

I decided I'm not going to say anything to him (lets be honest it usually gets me nowhere except my stress levels rising) and see if he will broach the subject himself. I'm so fed up with feeling this is MY problem alone and feeling guilty/bad for trying to fix it.
We'll see what happens.......

Anyway - afternoon all :) hope everyone's feeling brighter than I am today. I'm off for a little retail therapy soon, that should cheer me up.

Biedronka · 07/01/2014 12:49

Xposted

The internet history and of course DTD is fab cherry I sincerely hope something is making him turn a corner.

but then think if I turn this down how long will it be before another opportunity arises?
My own thoughts usually but yesterday I simply wasn't concerned, I feel I'm completely impassive towards sex atm it's as if all of the rejection, hurt and resentment has flicked a switch between my brain and vagina and has replaced what should be there with anaesthetic :(

Completely relate about the alcohol/dutch courage - it definitely loosens my Dp. He's quite a shy person usually but after a few drinks he loses his inhibitions. It's not exactly a turn on to think he has to half pissed to have sex with me though even if it's not for beer goggle reasons.

JadziaSnax · 07/01/2014 18:22

I know what you mean Biedronka about feeling unnatural. It's really bizarre, it's like brain says 'wahey' as body is going 'what's this Confused'

If we've not DTD for a while, it can take ages for me to get into it. Plus as I don't know if we will or we won't, I feel like I don't want to get too into the idea, in case he's not totally up for it.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 07/01/2014 20:48

Jadzia and Biedronka With you on the feeling weird on the rare occasions he is in the mood. Probably because, as a defence mechanism, I have been ignoring and suppressing my feelings for weeks and weeks, trying not to think about it, so when he does show some interest, my head thinks 'great' but my body just associates feeling turned on with that horrible sinking feeling of having my advances rejected, so it takes me quite a while to get into it. Sad I'm thinking it could be the best part of a year before we do anything, as I'm now 6 weeks away from my due date and having been up for it (and incredibly frustrated!) for months on end, I'm now really big and pretty damn uncomfortable and my desire has finally taken a nosedive. Is it wrong to feel relieved about this?! Maybe after a while, the less you have it, the less you want it. Still, I find the thought of being in a sexless marriage incredibly depressing, even though right now I can't be bothered trying any more!

Biedronka · 07/01/2014 21:48

I wish my brain was saying 'Wahey' Jadzia but it's just not anymore :(

I feel like I don't want to get too into the idea, in case he's not totally up for it.

Yeah, It's like trying to control the level of horniness, isn't it?
You don't want to feel up for the full works in case just a quicky is coming your way. Although up until a few days ago I'd of been happy for that.

Sugar I do think it is a genuine defence mechanism, I honestly don't know whether to feel glad or sad about it.
Bless you! NO it's not wrong to feel relieved, it's normal. I remember feel mega horny in my middle 3 months and absolutely disgusted by the idea from around 30 weeks :) (exH would have had his bits injured had he even tried) In just a few short weeks you'll have a newborn little lovely to distract you for a little while (Jealous much :) )

the less you have it, the less you want it agree!

So following on from last night - I knew he picked up that something was wrong.
He asked me what was wrong last night and why didn't I want sex . So I calmly told him that I'm sick of trying to make our sexual relationship work by myself. Also added what I'd said earlier about feeling I've had anaethetic injected somewhere and I'm just not feeling it. He has taken himself off to have a bath but looked a bit Shock at me before going. but I think the straw that broke the camels back when I asked why the sudden concern now? and was he sick of wanking Blush
That didn't go down well but TBH, I've had my fill of tippytoing around his feelings WTF about mine??
We'll see what happens when the (upto now 30 minute) bath is finished.

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