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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried about sex drugs I found

229 replies

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 17:58

Sorry for loooong message - I've literally just discovered this and been sat on the floor in the bathroom for 30 minutes wondering what to do.

DH of nearly 20 years has gone away with work so I was happily having a thorough spring clean and 'Sort Your Life Out' style tidy. Going through all the bathroom cupboards, consolidating multiple buys of things, getting rid of empty bottles, etc.

I had done mine, my children's stuff, travel bags, toiletries, and sorting through old bath toys to get rid of, but then I thought I might as well do his cupboard too - it was the last one.

I pulled everything out and found, right at the back...

1 temporary hair dye kit... that was weird enough. I was never aware he'd used hair dye and he's never told me about. He's never coloured his hair apart from for fancy dress, when it was a spray can job and I did it for him. The dried foam on the inside of the clear lid implies it's been used at least once.

1 brown cardboard delivery box with a 6 boxes of drugs in it. He takes heart and blood pressure stuff anyway, so assumed it was that. Pulled one out to consolidate with his other pills and realised...

It said on the box, "Take one 30 minutes before sex."

Now... he's never had any problem in that area, with me, anyway.

He's never told me he was getting these drugs.

I wouldn't have thought he taken one 30 minutes before being with me as it's never that premeditated.

It's not a medical prescription - he's bought them, clearly off some random company on the web. Which is worrying with his heart/blood pressure meds.

The delivery slip said 7 boxes, but there were only 6 remaining and one of them was empty (told you he was a hoarder), the other half-full. Each box contains 4 tablets, so that means 4+4+2 times he's used them already - ten times - and I've not been made aware of this.

There is a complication in our relationship as a few years ago I got cancer and had a double mastectomy. I have had reconstructions, but my relationship with my body has not been good since. I am covered in scars and don't have much feeling anyway.

That, with menopause and anxiety (I suspect also undiagnosed ADHD), the death of a parent and insecurity in my job...it has all completely killed my sex drive. So we don't have sex that often. And when we do, I can barely cope with penetration as it's so painful. HRT is not an option because of the cancer. So it's usually me pleasing him orally because I still love him and don't want him to miss out just because I don't feel sexy. To be honest, I love that I can still do that for him and get that reaction from him.

He is incredibly affectionate with me, has been so patient, loving, supportive and kind through the last few rocky years, and says that he's with me every step of the way and not going anywhere.

So until now, I had no reason to believe anything to the contrary.

I looked at the date of the drugs and they were bought 15 months AFTER my mastectomies when I was really not being sexual at all and 2 months before my second round of surgery so again, I wasn't having sex with him then either.

I wish I could remember how many times we've had sex in the last 3 years, but I'd struggle to say it was 10 times with all the surgeries and grief and anxiety and depression I've been going through. (I have recently gone to a doctor and asked for anti-anxiety meds as it's got really bad - I have an assessment and blood tests and an ECG to go through first)

I just thought how lucky was I to have this amazing patient saint of a man looking after me and being there for me.

Now of course I'm imagining the worst.

That, no wonder he's been smiling through all of this if he's getting his end away anyway and getting away with it.

I'm not a suspicious person, never had any reason to doubt him before (he doesn't even go out that much - he's a real homebody and family man, loves cooking and entertaining...) and have never even looked at his phone.

I'm not here to have everyone confirm my suspicions - I can see in black and white how this looks.

I'm asking MN here (if you can) to give me a perfectly reasonable, non-adulterous explanation for what I've found.

Might there be one?

I will speak to him tonight but won't see him till Wednesday.

Meanwhile I've got to be mum to our kids and act normal round them.

Do I bring it up with him? It will be easier to lie to my face with distance. What do I say? Or do I wait till he's back?

I'm now even doubting he's away with work. I've always trusted him all this time and all our friends and family think we're the best couple ever.

AIBU?

Yes - there may be a non-adulterous explanation (please do say!).

No - wise up woman FFS.

I'm really scared to press 'post' but here goes... (please be gentle).

Thank you for reading this far.

OP posts:
Dreamymeme · 20/04/2026 14:27

Honestly, in your place I might just keep schtum and continue with my comfortable and happy life. You say he's kind to you and you both love each other.

Now let's just imagine he wasn't coping without sex. Would you prefer he sulks, or divorces you? Like this, worst case scenario, he quietly took care of his physical needs elsewhere, without compromising his loving life with you.

Sounds like the best solution for a difficult situation.

Upearlyaseva · 20/04/2026 14:30

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Dreamymeme · 20/04/2026 14:32

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Probably. If she was truly happy and comfortable anyway, I think pretending you didn't see anything is the option that causes the least pain and upheaval.

Upearlyaseva · 20/04/2026 14:32

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MyPurpleHeart · 20/04/2026 14:50

Some men really do struggle with premature ejaculation later on in life, and use these drugs to try and last longer. A friend of mine did and was far too embarrassed to speak to his wife about it and knew he was disappointing her in the bedroom when he hadn't done for years and years previously. Its a horrible cycle because theres not a huge amount the GP can do medically and the pressure to perform just makes it worse.

If its something along those lines and you have both been through such a terrible time he probably didn't want you thinking that its related to any of your recent health issues.

I might be completely wrong but thats where my mind went when I read your post. He sounds like he has been wonderfully supportive and I hope its nothing sinister

CopeNorth · 20/04/2026 14:52

CopeNorth · 20/04/2026 13:55

So it says that is also used to treat pulmonary hypertension https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tadalafil/
is that what he has when you say high blood pressure?

Sorry - missed the update!

Jannetpreet · 20/04/2026 14:58

debating whether to start a thread about the same thing. Found ED drugs in my DH’s wallet - 2 had been used and one had fallen out the packet into the wallet. I asked him about them and he said he’d ordered them online and had been using them when we have sex as he doesn’t want to waste the opportunity when it happens (my sex drive is also on the floor). All of that is understandable as he has had performance issues in the past. However it’s the fact they were in his leap wallet which I didn’t like and he even joked about

Parsleyforme · 20/04/2026 15:10

I’m sorry that you’ve been through the wringer worrying about this. When you said upthread that he once brought up taking Viagra to last longer and you said you wouldn’t like that, I thought that was probably the explanation, but then felt very naive when people started mentioning prostitutes.

It’s made me think I should clear out my cupboards before my boyfriend moves in. I once bought antivirals in a panic because an ex had herpes but I then tested negative, I’ve got weird sex toys I tried once and didn’t like, sexy outfits I haven’t worn for years because they don’t fit anymore. It would probably all look a bit cheaty but it all has an explanation

ForCosyLion · 20/04/2026 15:18

jaynelou5 · 20/04/2026 08:11

You are extremely niave if you really believe that.

I know it happens, but I really believe that the majority of men wouldn't, for the reasons I mentioned. It's just not a normal thing to do. If I were a man, I bet the thought of many hundreds of people having been there before me - possibly the same day - would stop me from getting an erection. It's just grim.

Pistachiocake · 20/04/2026 15:43

The dye-he has every right to dye his hair and keep it private. Men tend to be more ashamed, and everything that's happened might make him focus on ageing. So forget that,
The medication-I would normally say he SHOULD tell you, because we should all tell our partners anything a doctor might need to know in an emergency, but we also want some mystery/romance-and again, here's male shame. We condition men not to talk, and to have to be strong, and with all you've gone through, he doesn't want to burden you.
He shouldn't have bought them online, obviously, so I would gently mention it, or just he have a friend or relative you could get to talk to him-someone able to do it subtly.
But I don't think he's necessarily cheating-not from this alone.

Eskarina1 · 20/04/2026 15:58

TellmeImwrongnow · 20/04/2026 13:07

If it sounds like it was written by AI because there are no typos and the grammar is good it’s because I am educated.

I couldn’t be arsed to go upstairs as it was two flights, I had a sore knee and I was tired and snuggled under a blanket.

Also I really didn’t think it was relevant to the post unless you are a doctor which most of you aren’t. I got the name when I happened to go upstairs later.

Some mumsnetters are really mumsnutters.

🤣🤣🤣

Edited

It's a running joke with my friends that a few of us write like AI. The rule of 3, using m-dashes, a certain slightly ovee-thinking tone.

I'm glad there's a reasonable explanation.

springhyacinths · 20/04/2026 16:35

MyPurpleHeart · 20/04/2026 14:50

Some men really do struggle with premature ejaculation later on in life, and use these drugs to try and last longer. A friend of mine did and was far too embarrassed to speak to his wife about it and knew he was disappointing her in the bedroom when he hadn't done for years and years previously. Its a horrible cycle because theres not a huge amount the GP can do medically and the pressure to perform just makes it worse.

If its something along those lines and you have both been through such a terrible time he probably didn't want you thinking that its related to any of your recent health issues.

I might be completely wrong but thats where my mind went when I read your post. He sounds like he has been wonderfully supportive and I hope its nothing sinister

But why would he purchase the drug that is designed to have effects for 36 hours versus Viagra, which would do the trick for the evening, if it was for use at home solo or with his wife?

Jackiepumpkinhead · 20/04/2026 17:17

ForCosyLion · 20/04/2026 15:18

I know it happens, but I really believe that the majority of men wouldn't, for the reasons I mentioned. It's just not a normal thing to do. If I were a man, I bet the thought of many hundreds of people having been there before me - possibly the same day - would stop me from getting an erection. It's just grim.

As you’re not a man, you can’t possibly know how they think. They certainly aren’t as ‘squeamish’ as us regarding sex.

jaynelou5 · 20/04/2026 18:15

ForCosyLion · 20/04/2026 15:18

I know it happens, but I really believe that the majority of men wouldn't, for the reasons I mentioned. It's just not a normal thing to do. If I were a man, I bet the thought of many hundreds of people having been there before me - possibly the same day - would stop me from getting an erection. It's just grim.

You need to do some research. For example, in Germany estimated over ONE MILLION men a DAY pay for prostitutes. A lot of these poor women are trafficked to the “mega brothels” there. Have a look at the Nordic model page on Facebook & read some survivor stories. So many men all ages all walks of life will pay with little regard of where these women have come from and why.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/04/2026 18:35

As pp have said I’d still have my eyes wide open in this scenario. Take care OP.

10namechangeslater · 20/04/2026 18:56

Dreamymeme · 20/04/2026 14:27

Honestly, in your place I might just keep schtum and continue with my comfortable and happy life. You say he's kind to you and you both love each other.

Now let's just imagine he wasn't coping without sex. Would you prefer he sulks, or divorces you? Like this, worst case scenario, he quietly took care of his physical needs elsewhere, without compromising his loving life with you.

Sounds like the best solution for a difficult situation.

Except for that fact that she is still intimate with him and has mentioned that she gives him BJs…

I’d be very careful if I were you OP.

Horses7 · 20/04/2026 19:06

I hope he is using meds as he has problems that he’s embarrassed about telling you.
Hair dye - perhaps worrying about aging. I hope so.
On the other hand he could be seeing another woman/women…man??
You need to chat together calmly when he gets home….. but I’d surprise him with what you know - ie don’t give him time to work out a ‘story’ .
Hope it all works out for the best for you - sounds like you’ve been through tough times and as a result so has he to a degree.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/04/2026 19:22

Horses7 · 20/04/2026 19:06

I hope he is using meds as he has problems that he’s embarrassed about telling you.
Hair dye - perhaps worrying about aging. I hope so.
On the other hand he could be seeing another woman/women…man??
You need to chat together calmly when he gets home….. but I’d surprise him with what you know - ie don’t give him time to work out a ‘story’ .
Hope it all works out for the best for you - sounds like you’ve been through tough times and as a result so has he to a degree.

He has worked out a story which she’s moreorless believed.

Like I said before I’ve seen way too much on here and irl to believe any flimsy lie. I’m not saying it’s a lie, just that he may have said what he said, because he knew that would be enough. I know liars who’ve lied until they’re blue in the face, and guess what? They were still lying. They had a good poker face. The only thing in his favour is the drugs were in the family medical cabinet and not hidden away.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/04/2026 19:24

Horses7 · 20/04/2026 19:06

I hope he is using meds as he has problems that he’s embarrassed about telling you.
Hair dye - perhaps worrying about aging. I hope so.
On the other hand he could be seeing another woman/women…man??
You need to chat together calmly when he gets home….. but I’d surprise him with what you know - ie don’t give him time to work out a ‘story’ .
Hope it all works out for the best for you - sounds like you’ve been through tough times and as a result so has he to a degree.

I do think, why would you buy a dye and try it out? Is that the kind of thing men do? I don’t do that. Only time I did use home dye was over lockdown and when I was much younger a few times.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/04/2026 19:26

10namechangeslater · 20/04/2026 18:56

Except for that fact that she is still intimate with him and has mentioned that she gives him BJs…

I’d be very careful if I were you OP.

I’d be very careful too.

I’m not sure but quite sure that my stepdad cheated on my mum on a business trip abroad. He had lots of these trips. She also got RA to the point where they are now in separate beds/bedrooms. Plus he snores badly. So easy to hide this.

choccytime · 20/04/2026 20:42

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Substance · 20/04/2026 21:02

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Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · Yesterday 09:54

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Alwaysthesameoldstory · Yesterday 10:01

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So why aren't you reporting it to rather than troll hunting?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · Yesterday 12:51

Alwaysthesameoldstory · Yesterday 10:01

So why aren't you reporting it to rather than troll hunting?

I did report it.