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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sexless Marriage

129 replies

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:37

AIBU to be utterly misreable (I am 38) - I got married last September, with hopes to start a family. My husband has had sex with me 4 times since then.

Amazingly, I did manage to fall pregnant in May but that resulted in an early miscarriage.

I started to track ovulation as a way to help conceive in April and asked him if he could make sure he has viagra in the house to aid his ED. I explained about the ovulation kit and how we should have intercourse at the time if shows a ‘peak’. I got a smile face on the test kit and was so excited! I messaged to let him know, he had not bothered to get viagra so we missed that month to try. I was very upset, less about not actually have sex, more about the lack of planning from his side.

I feel myself slipping into a depression, I see pictures of myself from last summer full of life and here I am in bed on a Friday on Mumsnet asking if I am unreasonable in floods of tears.

I feel like a fraud making an appointment at the fertility clinic when I know the route cause could be a lack of intercourse and intimacy rather than a medical issue. I want to support him and be kind. I feel this ‘secret’ about our sex lives is eating me up.

We were at an event two weeks ago where I became tearful and went outside, he came and found me. I started to tell him how I felt and he accused me of ‘using him’ (I have no idea where that came from) and that I was speaking to him like dirt. I was basically saying all of the above to him whilst crying, I was not speaking to him like dirt, I was letting out my fears about the future.

Our plan was to get married and try for a family and I feel I could have been sold a lie - surely if he wanted a baby he would be trying to get support and input by now. It is all me researching and making appointments. He has known me since I was 34 and I am now 38. I explained to him I felt he has already had years of my fertility and he will not be wasting a month longer going forward. I cry about the situation now most days.

I have researched all the fertility clinics (paid for the appt in July) and ideas such as home insemination (paid for a kit). I have been to the GP and organised some basic tests. I got and paid for some vitamins for him, he forgets to take them. You get the picture. I feel like I am pushing everything forward. I suggested adoption, he is not interested as ‘he doesn’t want some randoms genes in his house’. I then said what does he think about sperm donation / egg donation if it transpires there is an issue there - again he was reluctant as he wants his own off- spring. I kindly pointed out the reality of situation and that it maybe something we need to think about given the trajectory of things and this recent miscarriage. I discussed IUI as an option and explained how it worked and he seemed open to that. He seemed reluctant to use an egg donor or sperm donation. I spoke about getting a dog - he does not want a dog either. All of these suggestions are speculative as neither of us know at this point if there are any fertility issues. I seen myself with 2-3 kids but now I am slowly grieving a life without children.

What on earth am I meant to do? And most importantly, AIBU to be going out of mind about this? I have been as kind and patient as possible towards him, but I feel resentment and the instinct / possibility that he is actually quite content childfree with not having kids and has led me down the garden path creeping in. Although I would never say that to him and that is speculative. He is 51 - so a bit older than me.

He seems to continue his life as it was before he married me, golf - ski trips etc. He was away for four weeks in February time; combination of work trips and skiing (I do not ski), I think it was around that time that my depression about the situation really ramped up. All I think about is starting a family and what I can do about it, but he is off on another holiday or conference.

During the MC I was not only upset about the loss but also the reality of having to find a way around his ED / have sex with me in order to ‘try again’ and I felt that pit in my stomach that this could realistically be the reality for a long time going forward.

AIBU to be upset about this?

OP posts:
MessageMystery · 04/07/2025 20:41

YANBU - Are you sure he actually wants a baby?

Uupo · 04/07/2025 20:41

What was the relationship wise sex wise before marriage? But you seem to have two completely different life paths and you seem surprised that he’s basically kept the life he had, you can stay and not live the life you want, or power on and get a dog, ivf sperm donor and whatever else you want in your life. If he’s living the life he’s essentially always lived a wedding wasn’t going to be likely to change that.
yanbu to be upset

soveryconfused85 · 04/07/2025 20:41

Did you have sex before marriage or is this a new thing?

I say this kindly, as I can hear the frustration and upset in your post, but does he want children? If he does, he is going a weird way about it! Or do you think he does want kids but is embarassed about the ED?

getting to the route of the problem will hopefully help you to know how to best go about fixing it.

good luck

GivingUpFinally · 04/07/2025 20:45

No you're not being unreasonable at all. I'm so sorry you're this situation. I rarely say ltb unless it's a case of abuse. But, here I go...LTB

Putting babies and fertility aside for a moment.

Life is too short to be this unhappy.

Take ownership of your life back.

Leave.

Either happily enter another relationship, that will give you everything you're looking for or go it alone and have a donor sperm baby on your own.

You have choices. Make one and stick to it.

You deserve more than what you have. Believe in yourself. You can do this.

Stop wasting your fertility and time with this man.

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:45

He says he does want children
It was one of the main things we spoke about before getting together
I explained his actions do not appear aligned to a man wanting children - to which he has assured me he wants children
he is now making some appointments with his GP and agreed to trial AI at home and make sure he has Viagra in the house - fine, but it has taken me pushing it to get this far

We did have sex more in the beginning but less as the relationship went on

OP posts:
rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:46

soveryconfused85 · 04/07/2025 20:41

Did you have sex before marriage or is this a new thing?

I say this kindly, as I can hear the frustration and upset in your post, but does he want children? If he does, he is going a weird way about it! Or do you think he does want kids but is embarassed about the ED?

getting to the route of the problem will hopefully help you to know how to best go about fixing it.

good luck

I think he is embarressed about his ED

OP posts:
rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:49

GivingUpFinally · 04/07/2025 20:45

No you're not being unreasonable at all. I'm so sorry you're this situation. I rarely say ltb unless it's a case of abuse. But, here I go...LTB

Putting babies and fertility aside for a moment.

Life is too short to be this unhappy.

Take ownership of your life back.

Leave.

Either happily enter another relationship, that will give you everything you're looking for or go it alone and have a donor sperm baby on your own.

You have choices. Make one and stick to it.

You deserve more than what you have. Believe in yourself. You can do this.

Stop wasting your fertility and time with this man.

I have thought about this
I genuinely know I do not have time to meet another person logistically to have children in the time
frame - I greive the time I have already wasted my husband and I am angry at myself for letting it get this far

I am so stressed about it I barely sleep

OP posts:
0ctavia · 04/07/2025 20:50

I can see you are very unhappy @rosesandkisses so I’m sorry to say this.

Your husband doesn’t want children. And he doesn’t particularly want to have sex with you.

Otherwise he would be doing something about both of these things and he’s not.
Men are usually very good and putting time and effort into things they care about, like organising a skiing trip.

You need to stop listening to his words and listen to his actions. He is 51, he’s not going to change now.

If you don’t accept the reality that’s staring you in the face, you won’t be able to make informed decisions about where you go from here.

I’m sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear.

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:55

@0ctavia- I think I have known the reality for a long time, how do I get out of this mess?

OP posts:
Uupo · 04/07/2025 20:58

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:55

@0ctavia- I think I have known the reality for a long time, how do I get out of this mess?

Take the steps to leave and divorce if that’s what you want, the alternative being staying in what sounds a pretty miserable relationship and look into your options like sperm donation asap. He’s leading the life he wants, you should take steps to do that too rather than just hanging around for promises that are unlikely to happen.

SaturdayDream · 04/07/2025 21:00

I think you need to stop TTC. This relationship will never make you happy if it continues as it is.

MsVestibule · 04/07/2025 21:02

Reading this has genuinely saddened me. To use old-fashioned parlance, he really has led you down the garden path. He says he wants children but is doing absolutely nothing about it; he has his life just the way he likes it, but you're just spoiling things by nagging him about having sex and wanting children.

You're only 38, you just can't remain childless in a sexless marriage, it's such a depressing thought. In your position, I really would get out right now. Don't waste another day of your life with him. Then you can figure out what you can do about becoming a mother. Honestly, I'm furious for you.

Screamingabdabz · 04/07/2025 21:02

How did he react when you were pregnant in May? Was he happy?

Strangerthanfictions · 04/07/2025 21:05

I am so sorry, you sound reasonable but perhaps are facing the reality that you have made a big mistake which must be crushing. It's not just about wanting children, which is a mammoth issue in a relationship, it's about a man who is not prepared to make efforts to work for your happiness and commit to action that will secure a future you both want. He knows how unhappy you are about this and yet doesn't seem to value you enough to do anything about it. That's the big issue here, pregnancy and sex are the symptoms of that. Even if you do somehow managed to get pregnant you are with a partner that you don't feel loved and supported by and who cares that you are miserable. I couldn't live with that. Before you force him to become the father of your child somehow you need to consider what else will he let you down on and why doesn't he care deeply that you are miserable

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 21:08

Uupo · 04/07/2025 20:58

Take the steps to leave and divorce if that’s what you want, the alternative being staying in what sounds a pretty miserable relationship and look into your options like sperm donation asap. He’s leading the life he wants, you should take steps to do that too rather than just hanging around for promises that are unlikely to happen.

I have made an appt to start this process - you need the basic fertility checks first anyway but it is as a ‘couple’ so it is a step in the right direction. That is later in July so making progress.

I wish I had said something sooner but I am where I am.

I told him he would not be wasting any more of my time, he asked me if I was going to leave him a couple of weeks ago when we were at the event and started to cry. I think that is when he realised how utterly misreable I was and it came as a bit of a shock to him.

He is so set in his ways, not wishing to change anything and I have had to try and mold to his ways. When I moved into his house it was very untidy and hardly any food int he cuoboards. I spent the first few months tidying it, getting cleaners and the first week of living together I went to the supermakets and filled the cupboards with things to actually cook. I almost think I burned myself out as now I have no energy to do much. I got a cleaner to keep on top of things - he said something quite interesting which was very telling ‘we do not need a cleaner I am married to you’ - which obviously, was a huge red flag.

OP posts:
0ctavia · 04/07/2025 21:09

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 20:55

@0ctavia- I think I have known the reality for a long time, how do I get out of this mess?

Do you want to stay with him and accept that you can’t have children ?

Or leave him and go down another route , like using a sperm donor? You are wasting your time with adoption Im afraid, they won’t even assess you for another two years if you have just separated / got divorced. Then it could take a year to get approved and another year or more to get a placement, most social workers prefer couples . By then you are running out of time if you decide to have a bio child.

Do you have enough money and social support to have a baby alone ?

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 21:10

Screamingabdabz · 04/07/2025 21:02

How did he react when you were pregnant in May? Was he happy?

Yes and he cried initially when I started bleeding the miscarriage

OP posts:
INeedAnotherAlibi · 04/07/2025 21:13

I had similar issues with my H (now XH). He had an underlying medical issue that affected his libido. We managed to TTC and have DD after several years. He eventually agreed to TTC for a second but we never had sex! On the rare occasions we did, he couldn’t finish. It just got so frustrating I stopped trying.

You need to think about your situation and how these are the tail end of your fertile years. Do you really want a baby with this man? He’s not putting much effort into making it happen. He doesn’t sound like he’s very kind to you either. There are alternatives.

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 21:14

0ctavia · 04/07/2025 21:09

Do you want to stay with him and accept that you can’t have children ?

Or leave him and go down another route , like using a sperm donor? You are wasting your time with adoption Im afraid, they won’t even assess you for another two years if you have just separated / got divorced. Then it could take a year to get approved and another year or more to get a placement, most social workers prefer couples . By then you are running out of time if you decide to have a bio child.

Do you have enough money and social support to have a baby alone ?

Yes - definately have enough money
I earn a good wage and can support myself
the finances are another red flag

we have a joint bank account which we were both meant to get our salaries paid into - my salary goes into it but his doesnt and i have never said anything
so he has access to my wages
randomly he will withdraw 5k at a time to use to off set the mortgage or something - he says he will put it back
my understanding was everything would go into one pot but that has not happened yet
I do not have the energy with everything going on with the fertility to say anything

OP posts:
CreationNat1on · 04/07/2025 21:14

**Are you sure he is not gay?

What happens if you manage to have 1 child with him? He won't be bothered having another.

I ld LTB, he does not want the same things in life as you. If you are not happy now, believe me, thinks will skydive once the responsibility of a baby comesong. No more ski trips, or more than likely he ll keep going and leave you to it, as you are the one that wanted the baby.

He wants a bachelors life, leave him to it.

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 21:16

CreationNat1on · 04/07/2025 21:14

**Are you sure he is not gay?

What happens if you manage to have 1 child with him? He won't be bothered having another.

I ld LTB, he does not want the same things in life as you. If you are not happy now, believe me, thinks will skydive once the responsibility of a baby comesong. No more ski trips, or more than likely he ll keep going and leave you to it, as you are the one that wanted the baby.

He wants a bachelors life, leave him to it.

I have thought about this - but No I do not think he is gay. I think he has a low sex drive, could be hormonal issues.

He manages to finish when we do have sex if he gets an erection.

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 04/07/2025 21:21

I’m so sorry op but this man does not want a baby with you. He doesn’t want sex much either. His actions are way more important than his words here. I think you need to get out before your self esteem and happiness are sucked out of you any more than has happened already.

Snowyymum · 04/07/2025 21:24

I don’t have any advice but just wanted to say you are not alone. I had similar experience of heart yearning desire for family coupled with husband with no interest in BD but apparent commitment to having kids.
i am still hurt he would run to doctor easily but wont mention he has no libido
i also felt a bit of a farce re fertility help. Turned out we did have medical issues but ended up conceiving naturally miraculously! I do think going forward if you can bd around fertility window that’s only important time.
My heart goes out to you for your baby loss - truely the painful experience but also so sickening that you even had to worry about orchestrating conception attempts again.
I understand that it is not just upset from lack of baby/ conception, you also have to consider the emotional aspect/ resentment from his attitude.

it is very hurtful if he does not appear to care. And a bit confusing he accused you of using him. I suppose logically you are - planning to use his sperm for conception. In a way we all use our partners to a degree- for company, sex, conception etc. There can be pure love- but a sustainable marriage I think needs to a team.
I think you were right to point out that his actions don’t match verbalised desire for children. I would query if he’s that fussed. I remember once my hubby presented as disappointed we hadn’t conceived after I got my period- I pointed out we hadn’t even tried to conceive that month so hadn’t a chance!
The angry part of me would want to say if he doesn’t want to even attempt to try and conceive, then obviously the next option has to be donor sperm- you aren’t going to get magically pregnant
do you think he truely gets time pressure ?
it sounds just so hard for you

Uupo · 04/07/2025 21:24

rosesandkisses · 04/07/2025 21:14

Yes - definately have enough money
I earn a good wage and can support myself
the finances are another red flag

we have a joint bank account which we were both meant to get our salaries paid into - my salary goes into it but his doesnt and i have never said anything
so he has access to my wages
randomly he will withdraw 5k at a time to use to off set the mortgage or something - he says he will put it back
my understanding was everything would go into one pot but that has not happened yet
I do not have the energy with everything going on with the fertility to say anything

You are married to an awful selfish man, stop putting your money into the joint pot, like absolutely make sure next pay day it goes into your own accounts

AnneLovesGilbert · 04/07/2025 21:28

He’s not a bit older than you in baby making terms, at 51 he’s an awful lot older than you. It seems pretty clear that if he’s got to 51 happily childfree that’s who he is and he’s not remotely keen to change.

Ttc aside, you’re so young to be considering a life of no decent sex. Which is what you’ll get if you stay with him.

He sounds perfectly content with his life, dogfree, childfree, money and time and freedom to gold, ski and everything else.

If you really want a chance to be a mum you need to find another, tomorrow.