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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU not to let my husband have a girlfriend?

265 replies

MoggTheCat · 28/12/2019 19:11

Long backstory but in a nutshell: I’m 43. Married to DH for 18 years, with 4 DC aged 10 - 17. Before we had DC our sex life was normal/reasonable. After DC I had physical injuries due to difficult deliveries, which made sex painful. Struggled on for several years having painful sex approximately once a month. DH became increasingly upset over lack of intimacy and had a brief affair 5 years ago. I’ve taken antidepressants for over 20 years, which have adverse effect on my libido. DH and I get on very well as friends, enjoy each other’s company and are good parents together. But I find any form of physical intimacy impossible, such as sex, oral, kissing. Holding hands, hugging, cuddling up in bed are all good. I just have no physical desire for sex whatsoever. Complicating factor is that I am definitely bisexual, possibly gay. Due to homophobic parents, I wasn’t able to consider this until my late thirties. We have previously had over a year of sex therapy with Relate, which did not help. Currently we are not having sex at all. I feel terrible about DH feeling so rejected and not having a sex life. I feel it is unfair to expect him to stay with me if I cannot provide sex and intimacy. We have discussed having a more open relationship. I do not want to see anyone else but said I wouldn’t object to him seeing an escort or similar to fulfil his sexual needs. He said he wouldn’t enjoy sex with somebody that he was paying and didn’t know well. He said the person would need to be someone that he could get to know, exchange messages with, go on dates with, etc. I feel this would be him having a proper girlfriend and I don’t think I could cope with that. But if I can’t offer him sex myself, AIBU to refuse to let him have a girlfriend? Any advice gratefully received, thank you.

OP posts:
waterSpider · 28/12/2019 20:38

I find any form of physical intimacy impossible, such as sex, oral, kissing.

For those mentioning the pain aspect of sex, quite rightly, I don't think the last 2 of these 3 will be causing any physical pain.

Nanna50 · 28/12/2019 20:45

Would you feel able to be sexual intimate with a woman? Is there more than your physical injuries preventing any kind of intimacy with your DH?

KareyHunt · 28/12/2019 20:47

I don't have a problem with men using prostitutes in principle, but I can understand why they might not want to. I assume he wants to have sex with someone who wants to have sex with him. Either you need to let him do that, or it becomes up to him whether that's more important to him than staying in a sexless marriage with you. If you separated I'm guessing you'd remain good friends? It might not be so bad all round.

BackOnceAgainWithATinselHalo · 28/12/2019 20:47

While you’re still on good terms I think you should spend the time to work out together how you split up. Once it gets to crisis it won’t be as easy to be amicable.

Veterinari · 28/12/2019 20:50

I don't have a problem with men using prostitutes in principle, but I can understand why they might not want to. I assume he wants to have sex with someone who wants to have sex with him

So you have no problem with men committing rape in principle but understand why men might not want to commit rape.

Wow.

AnotherEmma · 28/12/2019 20:51
Grin
Stinkycatbreath · 28/12/2019 20:52

@BanKittenHeels what the hell are you on?

VestaTilley · 28/12/2019 20:53

I'd probably divorce in these circumstances - not so much your birth injuries, but the fact you might be a Lesbian! He deserves (consensual) intimacy - I agree with him about not paying for it: prostitution is exploitation of women.

You should probably separate.

Fatted · 28/12/2019 20:53

OP, I do believe it's time for you to call it a day. It sounds like you have a lot of things to work out for yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally that you need the space to do on your own without worrying about the impact it will have on your DH.

It is not the easiest thing to do by any means, but separation is probably the best thing for both of you in the long run.

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 28/12/2019 20:54

You’re gay. Get a divorce. I bet you’ll be happier with someone else too.

KareyHunt · 28/12/2019 20:55

Hi there veterinari,

As others have said, not really the place to discuss the politics and ethics of prostitution.

butterflywings37 · 28/12/2019 20:55

You can be intimate without sexual intercourse - so I think it is really more about your sexual preferences than intimacy with your husband

Shannon22 · 28/12/2019 20:57

Hhj

callmemellowyellow · 28/12/2019 20:57

@ PhilCornwall1
was suggesting that prostitution is inherently rape
I think that's an insult to anyone who is a victim of rape

speaking as a rape survivor - thanks but no thanks for your "support", kindly educate yourself before speaking on a subject you clearly have no understanding of. I stand in solidarity with all other victims of sexual abuse, coercion and violence, including the many who are working in brothels and other parts of the sex trade.

Veterinari · 28/12/2019 20:58

@KareyHunt
I was merely repeating another poster. Why don’t you police those posters piling on bankittenheels if you want to police the thread?

KareyHunt · 28/12/2019 21:00

Thanks - I don't!

ElizabethMountbatten · 28/12/2019 21:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the OP.

AFemale · 28/12/2019 21:10

*was suggesting that prostitution is inherently rape
**
*I think that's an insult to anyone who is a victim of rape.

It's not an insult to me.

Men who purchase sexual consent, who purchase a human body to provide his orgasm are creeps.

Umberta · 28/12/2019 21:16

@BanKittenHeels @bd67th Flowers 💚 I'm so sorry for your experiences but I want to say I couldn't agree with you more, thank you for bravely educating people 💚

ReanimatedSGB · 28/12/2019 21:20

Agree to separate; work on doing so amicably. If you know you never want sex with him again, what he does to find willing sexual partners is not up to you. He is not a bad person for wanting a sex life. You are not a bad person for not wanting to have sex with him, but you would be a bad, selfish person if you tried to insist he stays married to you and accepts that he will live a sexless life. Sex is important to some people and it is not up to anyone else to insist that someone who wants sex goes without it.

CodenameVillanelle · 28/12/2019 21:21

@BanKittenHeels I agree with you

Rosia8608 · 28/12/2019 21:22

I have friends in a similar scenario, except she always knew she was gay and he went into that marriage fully informed. They are and always have been the best of friends and great parents.
Now their kids are older ( 20 and 18) it's all falling apart. Their drinking has escalated and there has been DV, this year, from both sides.
They are hugely financially tied to each other, however have accepted that they need to sort that out, despite both ending up financially vulnerable.

You need to end this and both be true to yourselves. You can still be great friends and more importantly good co parents.

Mummy0ftwo12 · 28/12/2019 21:24

I don't see how you are a happy family unit OP, you're just not ready to make the leap into the unknown.

Daisy7654 · 28/12/2019 21:27

I think you can stay together as friends and he can have short term girlfriends. As long as you can cope with it.
Plenty of men on dating scene don't want commitment and run away after 6th date as they know that after that, they're approaching relationship territory.
Who knows how many of these are secretly married.

IncrediblySadToo · 28/12/2019 21:30

I think all you should do at this stage is keep talking to DH & keep being honest with each other about where you’re at. At some stage one of you might want to be free to look for a sexual relationship outside of your marriage, but if you keep talking & being honest with each other, hopefully you can remain good friends & co parents & not hurt each other too much in the process, but for now if you’re both happier with things as they are, than you would be apart, then there’s no hurry to separate or divorce.

It is possible he could find a FWB type situation where the other woman doesn’t want a full blown relationship, but also wants something more than ONS’s & sex with randoms - intimacy & friendship, but not commitment & a full on relationship. But it’s not that easy to find the right person.