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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is once to twice a week sex enough in a marriage ? When does sex drive dwindle in men ?

643 replies

isitenoughnow · 08/04/2025 21:38

I just don’t ever feel up for it. The thought makes me feel sick. But I do it, as it causes resentment from my husband if I don’t.

anyway, he’s expecting it once a week- sometimes twice ( but more rarely twice ). Usually it’s once a week.

I am going away tomorrow for 2 weeks and usually he expects it in this kind of circumstance and will summon me soon.

I feel sick thinking about it. I just don’t want to do it.

I feel resentful of myself, of my body, of him. The fact that I just have to keep doing this or otherwise it’s a problem for my marriage.

when do men stop wanting sex ? Does it really need to be a weekly thing or could it be monthly or whatever ? I just can’t take it anymore. When I say no, it’s endless begging and if I continue to say no, usually sulking.

I honestly feel like crying tonight as I know he’s going to come and request it from me.

at the weekend I was worried about him as he was out in his fast car and I thought how sad it would be if something happened. But it did cross my mind that at least I wouldn’t need to have sex anymore.

anyway, I ask again - at what age does sex drive dwindle in men ?

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 09/04/2025 12:59

I was going to say.

I'm confused with a few pp's claiming that OP's DH doesn't know. Yes he does, OP says he knows and that they've talked about it 'many times'. OP has even said he can leave if he isn't happy and DH has declined.

Bingbopboomboomboombopbam · 09/04/2025 13:00

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 12:56

There are two issues here and some people appear confused.

One is a husband who finds himself in a sexless relationship and has no idea why. He asks his wife and she doesn't respond and he has no clue what's going on. Yes, she really should communicate with him.

Two is a husband who won't take no for an answer. His wife has turned him down for sex and he relentlessly harasses and bullies her into giving in. He knows his wife doesn't want to have sex because she said no but he has sex with her anyway.

Edited

I’m not saying what he’s doing isn’t disgusting (to say the least) but she’s still just circling around it.

I might have missed it but has OP responded to anyone yet about whether or not she even still loves him? Everything about this seems convenience, at most.

Sad for both parties.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:06

The OP is actually describing a weight of expectation (and sex isn't an unreasonable expectation in a marriage).

She hasn't directly told her husband that she wants their marriage to be sexless. She's told him that it's 'just' a frequency issue, not a complete issue, thus (unsurprisingly) he has continued trying to initiate. And he'll continue sulking (and whether that is a good or a bad way to express his confusion/unhappiness is incidental) for as long as her actions are contradictory; there is a BIG difference between infrequent sex and no sex. The OP kicking the can down the road, hoping he won't notice the contradiction, isn't working.

As will always be the case on MN, some will be determined to have him down as a rapist, instead of being a husband who doesn't know whether he's coming or going. I don't think any of us would advise another to just lay back and think of England (which is self coercion, in order to remain married). The only option open to the OP now is to be honest - tell her husband there's to be no more sex. At all.

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 13:06

Bingbopboomboomboombopbam · 09/04/2025 13:00

I’m not saying what he’s doing isn’t disgusting (to say the least) but she’s still just circling around it.

I might have missed it but has OP responded to anyone yet about whether or not she even still loves him? Everything about this seems convenience, at most.

Sad for both parties.

The OP says she doesn't want to divorce therefore she has to have sex she doesn't want. She has recently had a conversation with her husband where she's asked him to stop bullying her and she'll approach him for sex.

However the OP seems pretty traumatised by her frequent sexual assaults and it's highly unlikely he'll stop.

Russiandollsaresofullofthemselves · 09/04/2025 13:08

is your issue sex in general or sex with your husband? sounds like it’s time for you to leave if the thought of having sex with your husband makes you feel sick.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:08

Russiandollsaresofullofthemselves · 09/04/2025 13:08

is your issue sex in general or sex with your husband? sounds like it’s time for you to leave if the thought of having sex with your husband makes you feel sick.

The OP has said it's sex in general.

CantStopMoving · 09/04/2025 13:18

isitenoughnow · 09/04/2025 07:32

Is that the only point ? I thought someone would have some other suggestions, other than divorce.

Honestly I’ve read through your points but you seem to have a problem with no viable solution.

neither of you are wrong in your position. Some women would be ecstatic their DH desires them so much and complain their husband isn’t interested. Others feel the same way as you and don’t want to do it much anymore and wish their husband wasn’t interested.

Your husband wants to sleep with his wife regularly. That is also normal.

you love each other and want to stay together.
what solution are you looking for? you either are compatible or you aren’t. Neither of you should be forcing each other to meet each other’s needs.

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:21

OP it is possible to be married and say no to sex and not be guilt tripped into doing against your wishes. I'm in a sexless marriage but we have discussed it a lot and are both happy with not doing it currently.

What would happen if you told him "sex is causing me pain, I need a break from it and the begging for at least two months". Would he really sulk that long? Would he force you to do it anyway?
Any man who cares more about the fate of his penis than his wife's body and mental wellbeing is just a terrible person in my opinion.

I would never let anyone's sexual desires override the right to have control over my own body. If some women are OK with maintenance sex then good for them but I'm not one of them. (And I've made peace with the potential consequences of either cheating or divorce happening due to this boundary I've set myself). I would rather divorce and never date again than have something forced upon me.

MiserableMrsMopp · 09/04/2025 13:27

Duechristmas · 09/04/2025 12:34

Have you thought about why your sex drive is so low?
Are you not attracted to him?
Are you not attracted to men?
Is it hormone related?
Is it mental health related?
Is it work related?
There's lots to explore but you're clearly not happy with things as they are.

How about it's the effects of peri/meno/menopause?

How about she has the beginnings of vaginal atrophy? NOT just dryness, but a shutting down of her system down there? Causing pain, tearing, shrinkage.

It isn't immediately obvious when it starts, but it can end up causing lichen sclerosus and even cancer.

Everyone just banging on about her just increasing her libido has no idea. OVER 50% of women will get vaginal atrophy. Some of you who are suggesting she just thinks about her sex drive will be in that category. Bet you'll rethink your perspective then.

Riaanna · 09/04/2025 13:27

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:21

OP it is possible to be married and say no to sex and not be guilt tripped into doing against your wishes. I'm in a sexless marriage but we have discussed it a lot and are both happy with not doing it currently.

What would happen if you told him "sex is causing me pain, I need a break from it and the begging for at least two months". Would he really sulk that long? Would he force you to do it anyway?
Any man who cares more about the fate of his penis than his wife's body and mental wellbeing is just a terrible person in my opinion.

I would never let anyone's sexual desires override the right to have control over my own body. If some women are OK with maintenance sex then good for them but I'm not one of them. (And I've made peace with the potential consequences of either cheating or divorce happening due to this boundary I've set myself). I would rather divorce and never date again than have something forced upon me.

A sexless marriage when you’re both happy is not the same.

Requesting a 2 month break when you know it will change nothing is deceitful.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:38

Riaanna · 09/04/2025 13:27

A sexless marriage when you’re both happy is not the same.

Requesting a 2 month break when you know it will change nothing is deceitful.

Exactly. There's a deceitful theme throughout the morally horrified replies - 'don't bend to his will, bend him to yours'!

And as a general observation/thought about 'respectful' husbands, there's always the possibility that your husband is happy to go sexless because he doesn't fancy you.

SergeantDawkins · 09/04/2025 13:44

Always baffled by men who are happy to have sex with reluctant and coerced women. How revolting.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:51

SergeantDawkins · 09/04/2025 13:44

Always baffled by men who are happy to have sex with reluctant and coerced women. How revolting.

I assume this is generalised (yes, such men sadly DO exist), because the OP's husband does not sound happy.

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:52

@Riaanna my point was, that his behaviour during the break may open OPs eyes about her husband's intentions. If he leaves her alone he's probably a decent guy. If he coerces her again then he's scum.

Not sure why you're so adamant about being team sex on tap. 🤷🏻‍♀️ There's nothing in wedding vows about vaginas being open access at all times.

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:56

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:51

I assume this is generalised (yes, such men sadly DO exist), because the OP's husband does not sound happy.

But he does sound happy to bully OP into sex.

Riaanna · 09/04/2025 13:58

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:38

Exactly. There's a deceitful theme throughout the morally horrified replies - 'don't bend to his will, bend him to yours'!

And as a general observation/thought about 'respectful' husbands, there's always the possibility that your husband is happy to go sexless because he doesn't fancy you.

I’m yet to meet a man who’s happy to go without who isn’t doing it with someone else…

whatkatydid2014 · 09/04/2025 14:00

What I meant was if one of you is never really in the mood for sex but doesn’t say that then this could look like:
Day 1 having a conversation along the lines of “you look amazing in that dress let’s head upstairs” and “I’m just feeling a bit bloated/have a bad head/whatever at the moment”.
Day 2 He tries to initiate something the next night and she says she’s just not feeling very up for it right now
Day 3 He attempts something to help her get in the mood (maybe rubbing back, holding hands or other touching etc). She feels if she makes another excuse he will want to know why she is never in the mood and she will be formed into a difficult discussion so she has sex & may well also pretend to enjoy it.

I can absolutely see how you can create an environment where your partner feels pressured without that being your intention if there isn’t open and honest communication.

OP has however since come back and said she’s had that discussion and been clear how she feels so even if there was some misunderstanding going on previously there certainly isn’t any longer.

I can also see the argument of others that boils down to people in relationships do lots of things they may not be keen on to make their OHs happy/because their OH likes something. I fully appreciate it’s a different thing but my OH and I will both go on a holiday/partake in an activity of the other’s choosing sometimes and we will enjoy the experience through what it offers to our partner even though we may not directly enjoy the activity itself. I can absolutely see some couples may extend this to their sex life and if that is how they want to do it I wouldn’t criticise them for it as it’s not an entirely unreasonable position. I don’t see it can work in this instance as it’s not that OP is a bit ambivalent but goes along with regular sex as she knows it’s important to her OH and enjoys his pleasure in it even if she’s not always that into it herself. She clearly actively dislikes it to an extent that it’s making her miserable. What I wasn’t clear on from the initial posts was if her OH actually knew how she felt or if she was feeling this way and hiding it as she was afraid it would be a marriage ending conversation to say she just doesn’t want sex

Riaanna · 09/04/2025 14:00

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:52

@Riaanna my point was, that his behaviour during the break may open OPs eyes about her husband's intentions. If he leaves her alone he's probably a decent guy. If he coerces her again then he's scum.

Not sure why you're so adamant about being team sex on tap. 🤷🏻‍♀️ There's nothing in wedding vows about vaginas being open access at all times.

Ah so you’re advocating playing games. Not honesty.

it’s not team sex on tap. It’s team if you aren’t honest the marriage is doomed. If your needs aren’t compatible the marriage is doomed. And expecting anyone who wants intimacy to stay in a marriage where there is none, that’s scum.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 14:02

Pepsipepsi · 09/04/2025 13:56

But he does sound happy to bully OP into sex.

I don't imagine this man is remotely enjoying having the entire onus to initiate intimacy placed on him.
He wants his wife to fancy him. Being told that she doesn't - at ALL - will no doubt devastate him. But still, he has the right to the whole uncomfortable truth, does he not? The OP must do the decent thing and tell him the truth.

SergeantDawkins · 09/04/2025 14:03

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:51

I assume this is generalised (yes, such men sadly DO exist), because the OP's husband does not sound happy.

He may not be happy generally but from what I’ve read he’s never said “no” after she’s given in to his summoning or sulking.
He still wants it and goes through with it even though he knows she doesn’t.

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 14:05

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 13:51

I assume this is generalised (yes, such men sadly DO exist), because the OP's husband does not sound happy.

Ah, so he's unhappily having coerced sex with his wife. What a state of affairs.

MumbleBumbleAppleCrumble · 09/04/2025 14:13

There are lots of helpful comments here. There are also, as in most of these sorts of mums Net chats, lots of very black and white responses.

Now absolutely you need to look at those posts by people highlighting things such as coercive control very seriously, and there are some good links shared that you should read. At the same time, it is so very hard in these sorts of posts – or whenever in a situation when you hear only the one view, and that edited and thought about for the audience and to put ones argument across – to really know what’s going on for both parties. You use very emotive words, that are certainly for most of us setting off alarm bells: words such as ‘summoned’ and ‘expect’ and ‘demand’. We, of course, now see some arrogant, probably abusive, arse, lying naked in the bedroom just waiting to be serviced by you. That may be true or it may be that these words come from how you feel (and feeling this is absolutely valid), while in fact there is a far more complex and possibly far less aggressive thing happening. We can’t know. You could well be in an horrendous and abusive situation (and again do read that stuff shared by others on coercive control) or you may be putting your partner across based on how you feel, while only ever raising the issue with him once in a while and then only when the act is wanted, in a sort of, ‘not tonight I have a headache’ way, and your partner doesn’t know that when you say you don’t feel like sex you mean ever, while he thinks this time.

You need to talk about this at a moment when sex isn’t something that’s wanted/ happening/ being rejected.

And you absolutely do need to talk about this.

There are quite a few on this thread who seem to dismiss the other person’s desires completely. Why? A marriage is a relationship and a relationship is about how two people work together to achieve something greater than either individual. Yours are two people living your lives together and, while there will always be some compromise, there should never be a situation that leaves either one of you deeply hurt, unhappy, resentful, or secretly wishing that the other one might just have a car accident this evening…!

Sex is – to most/ some/ many – a fundamental part of being in a relationship. If one person decided to withdraw that from the relationship – when the other still thinks it a vital part of their life and of the partnership - then it will clearly impact the relationship hugely. It certainly isn’t, as a few seem to suggest, just something that the other person just has to get over.

So you need to talk about it properly to your partner. You need to make it absolutely clear how you are feeling – that the thought of sex makes you feel ill, that you dread it, and that you feel that you cannot say no to your partner’s demands / requests for it – and then you ned to both discuss what should happen next, what might solve it, whether anything can - therapy, an open marriage, etc (and you need here to think about your own sex drive here, as you say it goes with long term partners, so do you actually still want sex, but just not with your partner?) - and if there is nothing there, no options left, then he has to decide whether a sexless marriage is something he wants. I suspect not and so you need to split up.

A quick aside on thinking about whether you both split up. There are many reasons people divorce and many reasons they don’t. As a child of divorce – and someone who now watches their best friend continue in a dreadfully unhappy marriage – I would only say that whatever you do, do not stay together for the children. I was far more damaged by the two years my parents tried to make things work (sitting on the stairs hearing them yell at each other, slamming doors, awful words, and nightmares filled with people screaming and shouting, etc.) than I ever was when they actual split up.

There is a second issue in your post(s) though, and that is that you say you have stopped wanting sex in every long term relationship (many???) you’ve ever been in. I think you need to think about that and seek help to address it if you ever want to be in anything lasting and loving.

It is true that our desire for our partners change over time. Sometimes our libidos change with age (though often it’s hard to split our feelings for partners from our general sex drive). It is absolutely true that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. It is also true (and there will be many here that will attack this statement) that as our partners age and their bodies change we find ourselves less attracted to them. Now, of course, there may be new things there that we find just as sexy – even sexier – and love is always useful too, but these things won’t be the same things that first made us want to pull each other’s clothes off and spend whole days in bed together. And, of course, just as we notice those changes in our partners, so will we be very aware in the changes age has had on our own bodies and, perhaps, our self confidence takes a dive.

Equally, our lives change and our priorities and passions and goals. Companionship and familiarity and the life you’ve built up, and hobbies and friends and children and all sorts might take a far larger interest for us that the physical. But all of that doesn’t and shouldn’t take away from the fact that your desire for sex has completely gone while yours partner’s has not. There should be no blame in this, but it should not be swept under the carpet either. The same would be if two people went into a relationship both talking lots about their desire to have children, only for one to change their mind. No matter how good a life you’ve built, no matter how much love there might be, something fundamental has changed and that needs lots and lots of talking through and may well lead to the death of the relationship.

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 14:13

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 14:05

Ah, so he's unhappily having coerced sex with his wife. What a state of affairs.

No, that's not what I said. She's told him her issue is frequency, not desire. His issue would appear to be that, in spite of saying she sometimes desires sex, she doesn't ever initiate it!

As I've said throughout this thread, her only option is to tell him she doesn't fancy him, and wants a sexless marriage.

Riaanna · 09/04/2025 14:14

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 14:05

Ah, so he's unhappily having coerced sex with his wife. What a state of affairs.

No he’s being coerced into staying into a marriage where he will never be happy.

Maitri108 · 09/04/2025 14:16

ChkChkBoom · 09/04/2025 14:13

No, that's not what I said. She's told him her issue is frequency, not desire. His issue would appear to be that, in spite of saying she sometimes desires sex, she doesn't ever initiate it!

As I've said throughout this thread, her only option is to tell him she doesn't fancy him, and wants a sexless marriage.

As I've said throughout the thread she's being raped. The woman sounds completely traumatised. She is being bullied into sex that makes her feel sick and she dreads it. She says no to sex and he doesn't stop harassing her until she gives in.