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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask for more sex...

427 replies

PseudoDad · 07/12/2016 20:45

Now I've got your attention with the thread - I need some advice from ladies/couples.

I've been married to my wife for 6 years. We have a wonderful son who is 18 months old. I am happy in every aspect of life except one...the bedroom.

Since our son was conceived almost 2 1/2 years ago we have had sex just 5 times. Prior to this, we weren't at it like rabbits but I was very happy with twice a week.

We both work hard jobs and as you know it can be exhausting bringing up a child. However, going up to 6 months without sex just isn't enough for me. My wife is a wonderful woman in every way. I think she is beautiful and has kept her looks/figure perfectly after our baby. She is the only woman I want. Its due to this though that I feel so down about the whole thing.

I've tried talking to her about this - but its hard without coming across as the total nob of a husband who is pushing for sex. I understood her concerns when she was pregnant and the fact she needed a break after birth - but when is enough enough?

How should I approach this in a way that respects my wife - but stops this eating away at me?

A x

OP posts:
donajimena · 09/12/2016 07:06

myoriginal I've refrained from commenting on your posts but 'blackmail' ?
You are coming across as unhinged or a complete GF. Or both.

creakyknees13 · 09/12/2016 08:54

myoriginal I've refrained from commenting on your posts but 'blackmail' ?
You are coming across as unhinged or a complete GF. Or both

I was hoping she was drunk. But it's probably been too long for that. Maybe very bored and on a massive wind-up mission?

Sallystyle · 09/12/2016 09:35

Once again some MNers act like twats because a man is posting saying he wants sex with his wife. It's embarrassing.

OP YANBU and you have had some good advice amongst the bullshit. Definitely work on the intimacy. I hope it works out for you both.

NavyandWhite · 09/12/2016 10:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mountainhighchair · 09/12/2016 10:34

The op hasn't been back because this problem is an invention.

creakyknees13 · 09/12/2016 10:39

The op hasn't been back because this problem is an invention

As you're psychic, what are next week's lotto numbers? Kthanksbye

NavyandWhite · 09/12/2016 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BingBongBingBong · 09/12/2016 10:41

This thread is in the Daily Mail Hmm

Mum050610 · 09/12/2016 10:54

Hi PseudoDad

I just read this story on mail online, can you believe that??!!! So I've literally just joined mums net so I could comment to you. I'm a mum too so speaking from experience!! To be honest I think you're getting a really hard time of it on this and I don't think it's fair. At all. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more sex than you're getting, you're not even asking/expecting it all that much in my view! I think sex is a basic need, especially for men and it's one way a woman shows her man how much she still wants him and appreciates him. It may not be the half a night sessions you had pre baby but it doesn't mean it should stop. Yes babies, toddlers, children are exhausting. Yes women tend to do more but I also think having time to be a couple is still massively important. My son is 6 and still doesn't sleep through the night and I work full time and returned to work when he was 7 months old so I feel I have the right to say that. Personally I don't get what cleaning has to do with anything but that's just me. You sound like you do your fair share anyway. Plus the fact that you've actually sought advice on how to tackle this sensitively says a lot. I'm sure I will get backlash for this but I really don't care. People act like it's just the mum that's the parent or feels the strain. I'm sorry you're having a crappy time. I would explain to her how it makes you feel xx

NavyandWhite · 09/12/2016 11:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mountainhighchair · 09/12/2016 11:07

Any time a man posts on here with a sex problem it's invariably a troll.

That and the fact this exact same thread was here last week.

Thisjustinno · 09/12/2016 11:07

It sounds very similar to what I hear from quite a lot of men/couples (I work in MH) so I'm not sure it's an invention at all.

baibage · 09/12/2016 12:36

Women out there can make fun of this guy all you want but the same thing happened to me and I did not want to go elsewhere but it continued for the next 10 years without change and we are longer married.

Mountainhighchair · 09/12/2016 12:39

Who was making fun of him?

creakyknees13 · 09/12/2016 13:30

Who was making fun of him?

Did you read the thread?

PseudoDad · 09/12/2016 14:09

Dear All,

Contrary to a common belief that I am an invention, I can confirm that I do insist.

I've been slow to respond as I have to work and continue to look after my family. There have also been some very strong view points here which I think should be challenged.

Firstly, many posters take the view that just because a man wants to have sex with a woman he is doing so just for a quick fix. Furthermore, through wanting sex many posters use negative terms like coercion or control to describe normal behaviors like taking your wife out for dinner.

This could not be further from the truth. Not all men view women as objects.

To think the above shows a lack of thought. It also spreads a stereotype that fails to show empathy for a problem that is serious for many couples.

Furthermore, I've repeatedly posted how my wife is a beautiful person both internally and externally. She is an equal and someone who makes me a better person. This is the reason I love her, made a lifelong commitment to her and started a family with her. To want sex in such circumstances does not make me a predator. If you can't see past that I will find your viewpoint hard to take.

Other views like "maybe he's got ugly or fat" and that is why she doesn't want to have sex with him would be seen as totally unacceptable if the gender roles were reversed.

For those who seriously wish to help:

  1. I wouldn't consider an affair or an open relationship. I don't really want anybody else and I don't think such behaviors really respect the mother of my child.

  2. We did go out for dinner regularly pre-baby so I'm just trying to return to some state of normality there. These nights out have categorically not been linked to a pure desire to have sex - instead to re-invigorate our relationship.

  3. As to counselling - I've been reluctant to suggest this as so few other aspects of our relationship are broken. I am indeed frightened she has fallen out of love with me - but if this is the case I would rather know as we both have to think in the best interests of our son.

Many thanks for those that have helped. I do not wish to fight back but some narrow minded views on men in general and myself must be challenged.

A x

OP posts:
myoriginal3 · 09/12/2016 14:12

Good luck with resolving your issue.

Fairylea · 09/12/2016 14:17

Well done Daily Mail for lifting yet another thread from mumsnet.... Hmm

bigbuttons · 09/12/2016 14:24

PseudoDad
Thanks for your last post.
I am genuinely sorry that you have had such a crap time on here.
I'm afraid that men posting on MN about these kind of issues do tend to get beaten bloody. I always cringe when I see it happen, and sadly it happens frequently.
There seem to be posters who have an axe to grind about men in general. I feel sorry for them, but they will not go away and some other poor sod will get it in the neck.
I think you have every reason to be concerned and worried about your relationship with your wife.
You have a right to have a good physical relationship with your wife and you are not at all unreasonable/coercive/controlling/selfish or unpleasant for wanting one.

Best of luck to you.

myoriginal3 · 09/12/2016 14:33

Where is it written that he has a 'right to a good physical relationship'? Is it written somewhere in law? Please refer me to this 'right'?

myoriginal3 · 09/12/2016 14:35

Does his wife have the 'right' to refuse sex?
I think you will find that she actually has.

NavyandWhite · 09/12/2016 14:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess · 09/12/2016 14:47

I think sex is a basic need, especially for men, and it's one way a woman shows her man how much she still wants him and appreciates him

Ew. It's not a transaction - believe it or not, some women actually really enjoy sex for the sake of it, rather than as a way of 'showing appreciation'. Good grief.

OP, your last post was thoughtful and considered, and I do believe if you focus on intimacy and closeness, hopefully things will improve. Keep the lines of communication open and heed the advice of several posters on here who have made suggestions as to how to gently resolve the issue far more eloquently than I could. Interesting thread.

Writerwannabe83 · 09/12/2016 14:50

Hi OP I have only read the first few pages of this thread so I apologise if things have changed or moved on now but I just wanted to share my experience with you.

After my DS me and DH didn't have sex for about 14 months as I had absolutely no desire for it at all and there were so many other things to think about. After those 14 months I did cone to realise that having an asexual marriage is not "normal" so I used to make more of an effort with DH and although I did enjoy having sex I felt like I was more doing it because I felt like I should as opposed to me actually wanting to.

The whole 'touched out' concept is so very true. After 12 hours of being pawed and climbed on by my toddler with his relentless questioning I then used to cringe when DH put his hands on me, even if it was just to hug me. I used to move away from him and twist out of his grip and I'm sure it hurt his feelings but in my head I was screaming "For fuks sake can I not just have ten minutes where nobody is fuking touching me!"'When DS went to bed I just wanted to be left alone, I needed to feel like my body was my own and unfortunately that included stopping DH from touching it too.

I breast fed my DS until he was 2yrs and 10m (did your wife breast feed as that makes things even harder I think) and it's been 6 weeks now since I stopped and I'm hoping my libido will return.

I would say that in that last 18 months (after the initial 14 months of no sex post birth) we've probably had sex about 15 times. We probably average about once a month and even now it still doesn't feel completely natural to do it as I still don't have any sexual urges or desires to have sex.

I still fancy my husband, I find him incredibly attractive but the part of my brain that contains a sex drive has been switched off.

Prior to DS I had the higher sex drive of the two of us so our current set-up is very strange.

DH did discuss it with me a few times but because it upset me it was never talked about it frequently. I used to get upset because I had no idea where my sex drive had gone, I had no idea why I didn't want to have sex anymore and so it left me feeling so confused. I avoided the topic because I had no explanations to give. My DH thought there must have been a reason why I didn't want to have sex with him, but there really wasn't and I felt like he was looking for answers that I couldn't provide and it became very stressful.

When he used to hug me or try and kiss me I would just freeze because I was scared he wanted it to lead to sex.

Having children can do very strange things to sex drives and relationships and my guess is that your wife may be just as confused and upset by it all as you are.

I knew our marriage was suffering because we weren't having sex and I knew I was the reason for that which is a very heavy burden to bear. I really wish there had been a reason why I didn't want to have sex because at least then it could have been addressed or we could have tried to fix it, but like I said, it was nothing more than the fact my sex drive had completely gone.

I don't know what the solution is - I bet my husband didn't know either - but YANBU to want to have sex with your wife.

bigbuttons · 09/12/2016 14:51

myoriginal something leads me to the conclusion that you are a very difficult person to get on with......

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