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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Wife incapable of loving me - what do I do now?

488 replies

Nigel10 · 19/04/2011 13:59

It started off as a sex thing - I wanted it more, she wanted it less. Then she didn't want it at all. She admits to having no sex drive at all.
I have spent the past 9 month doing everything I can to inspire some desire in my wife - to make her love me and want to be with me.
I love her so much and only want to be with her but she seems unable to show any love, desire, affection or intimacy towards me. Yes we do have sex (and she enjoys it I think) but she'd much rather be doing something else.
I appreciate this is probably a very common situation but as a man I want to share my feelings on this. I am near breaking point and very sad at the love we seem to have lost. I have cried more times in the last 6 months than in my entire life. I can no longer talk to my wife about this as she says it puts pressure on her.
Simply I need more love in my life, I want to be desired, to be touched lovingly but the one I want doesn't want to do this anymore.
I never wanted an affair but now when I hear about people having an affair I don't judge them as I once would have - I partly understand what may have driven them to do it.
For me I see no way to win back my wife - the more she pushes me away the more I want her, the more love I show her the less she wants me. It's a hopeless mess.
Does anyone share what I'm going through? I'd love to hear if there can be a happy ending to this.
Any advice is welcome - except the obvious. Believe me I have done everything to win back her desires (gifts, spa breaks, backing off, house work, fixing up the house, surprise dinners where we got married, date nights...blah blah blah).
This is destroying my relationship with her and she seems oblivious and unconcerned.

OP posts:
Coconutmummy · 20/04/2011 23:13

Depo prover can be used to reduce libido in men. It's commonly used for rapist and child molesters. No long term effect, easily reversible. That maybe what he is talking about.

Posters have really been unfair to the OP. I hope you never find yourself in a similar situation. The suggestio s that have been made that masturbation is an option is rude. If he has no right to require a physical relationship from her. Why should she be entitled to expect fidelity sexually from him. She gets to have her cake and eat it. There is such a thing as unexplained loss of libido, and counselling a sexually frustrated person is unlikely to be helpful

StayFr0sty · 20/04/2011 23:19

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedbinD · 20/04/2011 23:20

Showed this to DP. His advice "Ditch the Bitch". A bit tactless on his part, but there are other fish in the sea.

ChaoticAngelofchocolateeggs · 20/04/2011 23:22

Coconutmummy they are having sex, sometimes once a week, others it's once a month which is more than some get.

sayithowitis · 20/04/2011 23:24

HerBEggs, I disagree. In some cases a woman's inability to orgasm is down to poor communication or selfishness on part of her partner,but not always. I have no problems with questions about sex, but I do think that the way some posters are pushing the issue of the wife's orgasm is unreasonable. There are many women who do not always reach orgasm during a lovemaking session. There are many reasons fro this, it is not just because the partner is crap in bed.

StayFr0sty · 20/04/2011 23:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dittany · 20/04/2011 23:47

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Coconutmummy · 20/04/2011 23:54

This became an issue of sex, he has repeatedly said that she is no longer affectionate or intimate. In his opinion, she grudgingly agrees, as someone who has previously been used to a more physical relationship, that sudden change can be really difficult to live with.

He may be lying, but as someone stated earlier, in consideration of the response he has received, that is preferable to think of than the possibility of him really being in this situation

ThatVikRinA22 · 20/04/2011 23:55

just to answer SGB...

i married at 19. been married for 20 years now, DH was first proper partner, had rubbish sex a couple of times before that to blokes who didnt have a clue. DH was however a virgin when we met, we havnt grown apart, we grew up together and have learned about good sex together, our sex life has always worked, but he is patient and slow and doesnt go at it like a bull in a china shop, he is, and was, better at it than the few id slept with before who were more experienced, because he focuses on me before himself.

nigel....maybe thats mrs nigels problem? you are focusing very much on you, not so much on her? re reading this today your posts do progressively get whingier...

you say you have talked. what did she say?
would you consider relate? i think, when there are other resentments bubbling away that sex is the first casualty in a marriage. perhaps she isnt happy?

PercyPigPie · 21/04/2011 00:16

Have only waded through a bit of the thread, but you sound very very needy to me. Just what a mother of two small children does not want.

'Added to that I'd be terrified if I didn't satisfy her she 'may' have an affair.Oddly my wife seems to have none of these concerns - her attitude seems to be - I have no intention of satisfying your intimate needs but I expect you to remain faithful. Well that proposition is a little unfair.' - Wife you say? Do you remember those little marriage vows you took?

She's got two tiny children pawing her half to death and she doesn't want your 'I'm just a man who loves his wife and is feeling a bit insecure at the moment'. Sorry, I don't think it's about you at the moment, it is about the two people you have just brought into the world. Back off a bit and she may be interested.

handsoffmycake · 21/04/2011 07:10

I agree not all of Nigels facts add up but please believe me there are men that believe that if you are married you have a duty to have sex. Like my DH.

In fact I might have been Nigels wife had it not been for the fact he says he has tried everything in the last 9 months to spark some interest in his wife. My DH seems shocked when I tell him he might need to change a few things to help me find my sex drive again.

I think that the 50s housewife thing is sadly something that a lot of men do think it still relevant. Women should take care of the children and the house. They should be used to doing this kind of thing right? They should have sex with their DH whenever he wants as if you really love someone you will do anything to please them. Anything. If there is no sex then you are obviously just "room mates" and its entirely the fault of the "refuser?" If your DW stops having sex with you its entirely malicious and what else should she expect but for DH to seek it elsewhere.

FFS. How about you got married and your vows were through thick and thin. Sickness and health. How about I got married forever, that means through the tough times too. Have some thought and empathy. Have some restraint and honour.

If you dont love each other anymore then end it. If there is love still then have some patience. Be kind. Become close. Its not rocket science.

HerBEggs · 21/04/2011 08:22

I can't believe anyone's still giving Nigel any credit at all actually.

He hasn't addressed any of the really aposite questions. Like how much free time is his wife getting and whether he is exploiting her. How much he respects her, whether she feels respected and valued and cherished, because as has been explained to him, those are the conditiions most people need to want regular sex. He just ignores all those questions, preferring instead to occasionally come back on to whinge about giving up sex for life (which no one has suggested and which seems rather extreme seeing as how he's getting it once a week) hoping his feelings will follow his body out the door or some such drama-queen formulation and how unfair it all is and should he have an affair.

He's either doing a really accomplished trolling job (in which well done Nigel, who are you really? Grin) or he really is a really bad example of Modern Man. How any of you have the patience to give him any credit at all is beyond me. If he'd made the slightest attempt to address any of the issues raised honestly, even to say : I'm not going to answer that here but I'll go away and think about it, then I wouldn't be so convicnced that this is not a problem he wants to solve either because it's a game or he's just ghastly.

Magicmayhem · 21/04/2011 08:23

I have skimmed read most of the posts and to me it screams out that she doesn't fancy you...

dittany · 21/04/2011 08:27

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hairylights · 21/04/2011 08:48

" The trouble with sex is this...the more you do it, the more you want it and the less you do it the less you want it. In a long term relationship it is almost impossible to tease out the differences between love, sex and emotions as they are so connected."

The fact is, she doesn't want to have sex with him in the first place. Suggesting the mire she does it the more shell want it is utter bollocks and will just heap more pressure on her.

She doesn't fancy him anymore, probably becUse he's an utter cock and she has small children to look after.

BertieBotts · 21/04/2011 08:55

...this thread is still going? Confused

DuelingFanjo · 21/04/2011 09:45

she IS having sex with him. Plus in his first post he says "Yes we do have sex (and she enjoys it I think) but she'd much rather be doing something else" which suggests that while he thinks she enjoys it he can't be sure, which is just odd.

Rev084 · 21/04/2011 09:51

Funny, alot of people here have accused MNetters as having double standards but if it were a women coming on here complaining that her husband doesn't want to have sex, we'd more likely get a fuller analysis of the situation... how many hours the man works, how demanding the kids are, does he do much round the house, she's not lost her baby weight, does he not fancy her anymore etc etc. This man has come across as extremely single-minded, numerous posters have asked for more background information to perhaps find an explanation for her unwillingness to have sex and he doesn't answer. I'll offer my own advice, she doesn't want sex anymore because,

a) She doesn't fancy you anymore, simple, she has a 'lovely size 8' figure but what do you look like? Are you fit and trim? Have you let yourself go? Maybe your time would be better spent down the gym rather than pestering her for sex.

b) She's knackered, two tots - needs no more explanation.

c) Do you take an active role in family life? Is she the one always entertaining the kids, taking them out? Does she provide all the affection to the children? Is she the one to always dish out the discipline? A good father is far more attractive than one who doesn't participate. I can't be arsed with my OH if he's being a lazy dad (ie. spending all weekend on the internet or watching tv).

d) You're too clingy and selfish. Many other posters have picked up on this attitude from you, which is more a likely reason for the abuse rather than a case of double standards. I'm 8 months pregnant and have a 2.5yr old, me and my OH have sex every few days, would probably be more if I wasn't pregnant. If he doesn't get it as much, he doesn't pester me or constantly touch me, we'd more likely joke about it. We love each very much but are not constantly kissing and cuddling like the early days, thats not real life. Surely after 18yrs, you must realise that your honeymoon days are well and truly over?

e) Sex is important in a relationship but its not the only thing. Companionship, the children, doing stuff as a family. Are you a nice companion and a good father? You mention that you do have sex, just not as much as you like, is that not normal after 18yrs? Maybe you're just creating a problem out of what is a entirely normal set-up for most people who are both working with two tots.

And going back to double standards, you come on here to get a female perpective, go on a mans forum, they will offer entirely different advice. If a female goes to a mans forum saying her husband won't have sex with her, they'd most likely say, "what size are you love? lose some weight", "get your hair done, its a mess", "maybe hes shagging someone else", "I'll sort you out, give us your number" etc. Not neccessarily what she wants to hear, but a mans perspective no less, get it?

lookthepartbethepart · 21/04/2011 11:10

ok, Why not give her some space for a few months - don't mention sex - concentrate on having a laugh together and with the kids. Let her put an arm round you without it being miscontrued as a come on. Start enjoying her company as a companion and who knows you might start getting exactly what you need if you allow her to reconnect emotionally with you. let her make the next first move - however long it takes because if you want affection and to be desired that's probably what it will take.

It could be that simple - imagine how great that would be? Make friends with your hand for a while to compensate - surely that's worth it to save an 18 yr marriage?

Stop resenting her for not wanting to sleep with you - it's not a punishment or a personal slight. Women have different cyclically based sex drives to men. They genuinely don't 'withold' sex as a trading chip.

Marriages are about standing together as companions through thick and thin. Maybe after her producing two beautiful dc's for you this is your time to stand by her for a bit?

If it doesn't work then do try counselling - relate are excellent and won't make either of you feel right or wrong - they will just listen and make suggestions.

Diggs · 21/04/2011 11:53

I think the op is a manipulative bully who is only concerned with himself . His wifes only value is how much sex she has with him . Considering the sort of manipulative dramatic crap hes tried to pull here i dread to think how he treats his wife .

noodle69 · 21/04/2011 14:49

'It is actually quite rare to marry young, stay married and learn about sex and mutual pleasure in the course of the marriage'

Just cause you married young doesnt mean you havent had experience. You dont know how many people they have been with. I was married at 20 but was in double figures by that age. My husband was by no means a virgin either.

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 21/04/2011 14:52

Noodle: That;s perfectly true. But the OP was at one point suggested he married at 16, was a virgin and has had no other sexual partners. WHich usually means someone who is shit in bed.

noodle69 · 21/04/2011 14:57

SGB - SOrry didnt read that bit. I agree with loads you write on mumsnet about sex.

'a vast number of women do not orgasm every time, and many never do. It doesn't mean their partner is crap in bed."

Also this yes it definitely does or the woman is too shy to put across what they want. Also its to be expected if the woman doesnt come every time/most times then she wont want sex as much as a woman who does.

AKissIsNotAContract · 21/04/2011 15:14

'a vast number of women do not orgasm every time, and many never do. It doesn't mean their partner is crap in bed."

Really? I think it means exactly that. Most decent men would make sure their partner comes at least once before they do.

TobyLerone · 21/04/2011 15:16

Some women have problems with orgasming which have nothing to do with their partner.