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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

Do partners who don't want sex have the 'right' to object to their partners having sex elsewhere?

112 replies

ImperialBlether · 24/08/2011 22:40

There are so many threads where the OP has a low sex drive or where the OP's partner has a low sex drive.

Leaving aside those where the OP has had a young baby or where there has been illness or unusual stress, does anyone have the moral right to say "I don't want sex and I don't want you to have it, either"?

I'm not talking about where a partner is flirting with someone else or is using porn and the partner objects.

I'm talking about reasonable situations, eg the kids are aged 10 upwards and the OP or their partner just doesn't want sex.

OP posts:
LittleWhiteWolf · 25/08/2011 15:02

My husband is more important to me than sex and having a good marriage for me personally doesn't have to be chock full of sex. We have been together for 7 years, married for 3 and have a 2 year old. Naturally we have less sex now that we ever did, but we value it more. If we never had sex again, as long as there was intimacy I think I'd be ok with it.

If, on the other hand, he withdrew sex and affection and became cold and heartless towards me I would end the marriage and would expect the same of him should I ever behave as such to him. I would not even think about finding sex elsewhere because a) I do not agree with adultery and b) for me to be so unhappy with him that I would want to seek sex (and companionship and love and all the things that go with it for me) I would see no reason to stay with him. I do not think I'd be setting a good example for my DD otherwise, either.

Obviously I've looked at this from my own perspective and naturally it won't be the same for everyone, but I think my husband and I could have a good marriage and relationship without sex. And I say that as the partner with the higher sex drive.

didyouseewhatshedid · 25/08/2011 16:21

What if one partner had piled on loads of weight - be it the man or woman - and other partner said they no longer fancied them. So first partner said, okay, I will go have sex with somebody who likes fat people. Would that be right?

Bogeyface · 25/08/2011 16:33

didyousee
It depends what you mean by loads of weight. If we are talking a couple of stone and say...3 dress sizes then they would be within their rights to tell the fat hater to piss off! Anyone who objects to a bit of extra padding on the person they purport to love body and soul isnt someone I would want to be with.

If you are talking reinforced beds and knocking a wall down to get them out of the house fat then I cant imagine they would be able to have sex anyway. So its a bit of a moot point really!

babyhammock · 25/08/2011 20:50

Agree with Littlewhitewolf . Its all about affection and feeling loved and wanted.

Ok I 'witheld' sex alot of the last year. Not deliberately, but because P was abusive in every way and although the physical attaraction was always there for me, I just couldn't do it when he had been awful all day and then wanted sex. I was also fairly sure that he was cheating and I hated the idea of that too... and catching something!

OneMoreChap · 26/08/2011 13:03

Of course partners who don't want sex have the right to object to their partners having sex elsewhere.

I think that sometimes, both men and women do withdraw sex if there are other problems within the relationship. The issue can then quite easily become a token of exchange, as in "you were 'nice' today, you 'helped' today, therefore you can have sex".

In my experience, that pretty fast degenerates to "What, because today you recognised my contribution, you're intending to reward me with sex? No thanks, I'd rather do it myself." DS and DD were separated by 2 years, and I think we had sex a couple of times on one holiday which resulted in her conception.

After that, sex became extremely rare, because it was only used as a trade item, and I didn't want to play, and in the end became functionally impotent with her.

There's an old saw along the lines of "Women need to feel loved to have sex, men need to have sex to feel loved". While it's obviously a cliché, it suggest both love and sex are pretty important.

In my case, I had an affair later, realised how unhappy I was, and after a couple of false starts and hesitation left my wife. Not for the OW, but because I was unhappy.

Fortunately for me, the OW became DW some years later.

Yes we have had issues; not once have I ever felt sex is being used as a "tip" - but yes, I recognise if I've been a work-obsessed div, I'm unlikely to find DW in a caring sharing mood. So we try and share time, hobbies and work - and the big thing is recognising we need "us time".

ImperialBlether · 26/08/2011 19:17

A poster asked if I'd posed this OP because of my own history. The answer's no.

I've noticed many times on these threads that a lot of women have said "I have a really low sex drive and wouldn't care if I never had sex again." Then there have been a lot of men who've had very low sex drives and seem to think if they don't mention it, nobody will notice.

I don't believe it's right to cheat. I've been on the receiving end of that it was dreadful.

However, I think it's wrong to expect someone who patently wants to have an intimate relationship to just put up with a sexless marriage and pretend everything's okay. It's soul destroying.

OP posts:
NotQuiteSoDesperate · 26/08/2011 19:42

Oh dear, this thread has made me cry. DH told me about 8 years ago that he didn't feel able to have sex with me any more, due to his disabilities. I miss it terribly, but I love him so much and we have been together for 25 years in all. I just don't know how I can cope with the idea that I will probably never have sex again unless DH were to die and then I could look for a new partner. I don't want to think about that as, apart from this, he is a wonderful man and has supported me through very difficult things in our life together. As I have also done for him. We still cuddle and kiss a lot, which is lovely.

solidgoldbrass · 26/08/2011 20:21

NQSD: that is terribly sad. Have you ever talked about, or considered about, discussing the possiblity of you having a little NSA action outside the marriage? Because it sounds like your H is a lovely, loving man who might be able to cope with the idea of you going elsewhere as the bond between you is so strong and the lack of sex is not down to bad feeling.

NotQuiteSoDesperate · 26/08/2011 20:33

SGB on the contrary, I think it would kill him :( We had such a wonderful sex life at the beginning, but sadly, he became disabled around the time we had our DSs and things deteriorated quite quickly. I sometimes cry when I think of the slim, fit man I had back then. Now he is obese and severely disabled. I am also chronically ill, so maybe I wouldn't be able to respond even if a miracle occurred and he asked to have sex again!

I try not to think about it too much. At least it's not like happens with some people - they become cold towards each other. We are still very cuddly and tactile, so that helps a bit.

Thanks for your concern :)

ImperialBlether · 26/08/2011 20:44

Would losing weight help him, NotQuite? Can you have some sort of intimate life without actual intercourse? It must be very frustrating for you otherwise.

Does he still have sexual feelings?

OP posts:
LittleWhiteWolf · 26/08/2011 20:53

NotQuiteSo, I'm sorry for you. Sad

My dad did the opposite to my mum several years ago. He claimed he couldn't have a sexual relationship with her, nor even kiss her on the lips because she was on oxygen for 20 hours a day. He claimed he was unable to see past the oxygen tube. She eventually got new lungs, but the damage was done. Her op was March 22nd but he was on dating sites citing a widow status in April.

Your post just made me think of that. Perhaps that accounts for the strength of my personal feelings on the subject.

NotQuiteSoDesperate · 26/08/2011 21:02

Imperialblether He tries to lose weight, but just can't seem to. He eats less than I do! I think he has lost all sexual feelings. I have tried to talk to him about it, but it is very difficult as we both end up in tears. As I am also ill, my sex drive has gone at the moment. Although, it may return if I improve. Mind you, I have lost loads of weight myself and feel pretty good about my 50-something figure again :)

LittleWhiteWolf that is so sad :( I must admit that I am glad that we still have a very loving relationship.

solidgoldbrass · 26/08/2011 21:18

Just bear in mind, NQSD, that a loving relationship is not about one partner's needs and wishes always taking priority over the other's, even if that partner is physically or mentally ill. You are a person too, and you matter too. Just because you are the woman in the partnership doesn't mean that you are supposed to sacrifice your life to looking after the man.

NotQuiteSoDesperate · 26/08/2011 21:59

Oh, I agree with you there SGB. Our relationship is pretty equal I would say. This year, he has had to leave his own disabilities on one side to look after me as I have been seriously ill. I had 5 months off work and have only just been able to struggle back. He has been fantastic! I have had to do similar for him in the past. I don't think that either of us are sacrificing our lives for the other - it is a partnership. We also have a disabled DS1 also and DH does most of the work for him (emotional support, sorting out issues for him etc).

DirtyStopout · 26/08/2011 22:30

This thread is really interesting to me as a woman whose DH just isn't interested in sex at all anymore.

I love sex, I always have, and we used to have it frequently, but my pregnancy 4 yrs ago slowed things down and they've never started up again.

I have practically begged and pleaded with him to make more of an effort, and I myself have tried to get him back in the swing of things, but TBH there's only so many times you can get rejected Sad

I feel like a complete sex-obsessed maniac now (hence the name-change NN) as it's all I think about. My fantasies are increasingly involving one particular (younger) man who I know would shag me given half a signal.

I'm so tired of feeling guilty for wanting something normal that I am seriously considering going elsewhere for somre relief. On the flip side of the coin, I can't actually believe that I'm being so stupid as to risk my marriage over sex!!

Although, at the moment, I hardly feel like there's much marriage anyway, regardless of how much I love my DH and the family we have with DS.

So very very Sad

babyhammock · 26/08/2011 22:46

Dirtystopout :(

Hugs x

solidgoldbrass · 26/08/2011 22:48

Dirtystopout: It's your H who should be feeling guilty, because his behaviour is selfish. He might be content, but if you are not, then the marriage is in trouble, and he doesn't have the right to expect you to shut up and put up with it. HE is risking your marriage by ignoring your needs.

DirtyStopout · 26/08/2011 23:02

Even if it's all his fault though, it still doesn't make sleeping with someone els ok. It doesn't make our home life happier, or my DS's life stable. It could split our family forever. If there was affection and intimacy alongside the lack of sex, I'd cope better, but he's just not that kind of person. He loves me completely, but he shows love with deeds not affection.

I feel lost, if I'm honest. Part of me just wants to run to the younger bloke, have mad sex, get it out of my systme and start again wwith DH. But that would never work, and I'd be kidding myself to think that the fall out wouldn't be massive.

OneMoreChap · 26/08/2011 23:15

solidgoldbrass every time I wonder about the content of "relationships", I see the odd post like yours where sense shines through.

In any marriage, ignoring the needs of your partner, be it for help, hugs, intimacy or sex is selfish.

Recognising that you are putting your marriage at risk by that sort of behaviour is something more people should do.

maypole1 · 26/08/2011 23:19

My sister was looking after a guy who was paralysed from the neck down

His wife took a lover my sister was horrified but to be air she was only 34 she didn't want to leave him but je couldn't even cuddle her

And I don't think I you can't even get a cuddle when your down or have some one brush your hair back

Its a bit much to ask for some to be celibate for the rest f their life she of course ha to give up having children to ask someone to give up human comfort and sex as well in my view is to far

maypole1 · 26/08/2011 23:22

And to be honest many women use sex and a form of control witch I think is very sad

If someone has just one off sex fair enough but some women hate sex their desire is only to have the required amount of children then they shut shop

And even the most fair mined person can see thats not fair

ThePosieParker · 26/08/2011 23:27

maypole......I don't think in a good relationship anyone uses sex as control. Your post is pretty hideous.

OneMoreChap · 26/08/2011 23:35

ThePosieParker

I didn't think maypole1 said anything about a good relationship.

I don't know about many women using sex as a form of control.

I know my XW used to attempt to use sex or its withholding as a form or reward or punishment. I stopped playing. Eventually, she was my XW. It's a hideous thing to do, and no-one should put up with a relationship in which it happens.

I suspect many do.

ThePosieParker · 26/08/2011 23:43

Perhaps it feels like reward and punishment? But it's actually wanting or not wanting to have sex.

ThePosieParker · 26/08/2011 23:43

IE when DH is a wanker I, strangely, don't find him attractive.Hmm

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