Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Not had sex for almost two years

801 replies

Olliedelondon · 21/04/2014 14:03

I very much love my DW. Before we had our two children, we had a reasonable sex life, although I would always initiate. But since our children we have had very little sex (once every four months maybe) and nothing at all for now almost two years. My DW says that I am unreasonable in my 'needs' and that I should focus all my attentions on looking after the children. But I think it's destroying our marriage and I'm not prepared to sacrifice a sex life and frankly don't see why I should. I also don't think she fancies me. At all. Am I unreasonable? What should I do? I have 'got by' by using pornography in secret. I have also started fantasising about attractive colleagues, although I have never had an affair. The sexual frustration I feel is almost painful...Help?

OP posts:
Oblomov · 26/04/2014 11:45

I am glad thread has come back. after being derailed , with the discussions re sex industry etc.
I didn't realise that people viewed this so seriously. like when someone said, " no sex for 2 years, equals unreasonable behaviour, thus grounds for divorce".
Sad
or I think I did know,. just didn't want to admit it.

my sex drive disappeared. just like a switch being turned off. after the birth of ds's. makes me really sad.

AnyFucker · 26/04/2014 11:49

Welcome to MN, Bill

It's always nice when new goaders are welcomed into the fold.

Offred · 26/04/2014 11:59

Is there? Is that the only place we're allowed to talk about sexism? Maybe all the posters who are posting about 'MN double standards' could post there or is it just when people who agree with you about sexism they are allowed to challenge perceived sexism?

Oblomov - I don't think it is correct that no sex is treated as unreasonable behaviour on it's own but I also wouldn't worry too much as UB is now in the modern age often just a way of wangling a no fault divorce without separating for ages and still paying lip service to the traditional views concerning marriage.

No sex is a problem, like anything else, when one (Or both) partner is unhappy. I do think if your partner is unhappy you will have to deal with it as a problem in some way, not ever by having sex you don't want, that doesn't help but by working through it. It's not about the sex so much as about the relationship IYSWIM?

Maisie0 · 26/04/2014 12:06

Offred This is not a political discussion section. This is a man telling you of his personal life. Why can't you give him SOME decency and respect? That is respecting his RIGHT as a person. The right is where he commented that he felt jealousy at seeing other families and a loving partner together. The right to want to have sex with his wife as an intimate couple. The right to have a supportive partner also and one that is proud of him.

I will admit that I too did project. I shall own up to that. But then I also stepped back too because of what some other female posters wrote. I then had to use stronger will to override my own feelings and take on this situation from a "what would I do if this was me", to a "If I was this man, then what would I feel". This difference is hard to comprehend and to try, but I hope that the OP understand and appreciates what is being asked of others too. I really can't do it too well.

What I do know is though, I came to the MN site because of another heavy going hateful (let's be honest here and call it what it is) fight, one thread related to prostitution, another related to my desire to want sympathies on being harassed by some bisexuals on the dating site, and not actually getting this. I then was "targetted" by these male posters to say that I should "consider" this woman. I was horrified, and felt repulsed. I also then started to think whether there is an issue with myself, just like the OP did here. (What if indeed the situation is that she is a homosexual? Why are other females here advocating that he should sleep with her despite this fact, if indeed this becomes a true fact?) I do not know if the OP felt marginalised or not, but I certainly did, and in the end, I was harassed out of that forum.

That is why I found the MN as a sanctuary and I felt relieved to be here, to be heard, to get sympathies from other females, to ground me and my worldview. I appreciate this an awful lot. The same negative thing happened on that forum for me,as did for the OP here. I was called a "nutter", and then also, they mentioned that they want to "legalise prostitution" and so forth and that I should as a female "stay out" of that discussion or not to moan or to protest as it has got nothing to do with me. I see the poor OP to be subjected to this kind of thing here also but reversed the other way. Only 2 men from that other heavy political forum took what I wrote seriously, the rest just rejected what I wrote, and called me "hysterical" and "out of touch" because I did not write in a way which actually fit their mould. As I said, I was raised differently... and this is definitely a cultural thing because displaying vulnerability is not a crime. It is also not a crime to even say things like, "I am a 36 year old woman, and I am scared and not know what to say to reject a 24 year old bisexual" without someone telling me that I am actually a homophobe or whatever the term is.

I do feel sorry for the OP. If indeed his wife turns out to not be a heterosexual, then yes, I also agree that he has been misled up the garden path so to speak. That itself is not fair. I had to step away from this thread and the influences of other females to truly think whether I am then not supporting females by saying that. It truly conflicts with something inside of me too to not stand up for the female gender this way. But I also felt for the OP here in this instance. He should not have to suffer, and yes, as much as I did not wanted to side with the idea of divorce, but if the marriage was based on 2 people who are of different sexuality, then I too think he should file for a divorce.

For a moment, have you ever considered that we are actually external strangers advicing this poor man on how to handle his wife? Can you see it from that angle also too? If he is a heterosexual man, and we are advicing him to have sex or co-erce sex on a homosexual woman. Can you consider self censorship and see the bloomin obvious ??!?! Reduce feminism theories and SEE the man and SEE what he is writing !

Offred · 26/04/2014 12:18

Who is advising him to coerce a homosexual woman into sex?! You were the one banging on about not divorcing. And you felt MN was a sanctuary because of the posters' understanding of gender politics from a feminist perspective but we shouldn't talk about gender politics? Confused baffled... Again...

Oblomov · 26/04/2014 12:31

Offred, I know you are very knowledgeable about these things. Because I have seen your posts on other similar threads.

believe me, I have read nearly all the mn threads there has ever been, on Mn, the 'no sex drive'.
and I don't mean soon after childbirth.
i mean the 100's and 100's of women, who have children of school age, who just don't have drive.
and most people admit that gp's are dismissive, and there aren't much drugs\creams/testosterone patches etc that help. and relate sexual counselling only helps certain couples.

which leaves most of us. who for whom, there seem to be very little answers.
quite demoralising.

are we assuming the op's DW is not hetrosexual? I must have missed that bit!!
I bet its more like, some of the other suggestions I have made!!

Offred · 26/04/2014 12:42

Oblomov - The op swooped in with a massive drip feed about the only time he'd seen her being truly affectionate was when they returned to New Zealand for a visit and she spent a long time kissing and being affectionate with her bf and then when he was upset she told him she had done it 'for him'.

It is likely if it's real I would say that she is struggling with her sexuality tbh.

I can see how GPs may be very dismissive as a. There are entrenched views that it is normal and unproblematic for women to just not like sex and b. it's one of those things that is not strictly a medical problem that medical practitioners struggle with.

The main issue with the op's situation I'd say is that both of them are circling round the obvious problems and not sorting them out.

If you are feeling it is a problem and trying to sort it out then I don't think your situation is comparable to op's.

What does your partner feel? There obviously may come a time when a couple becomes incompatible but that is true with any LTR. I wouldn't read into the thing about UB and divorce and feel it is unacceptable to be a person who has lost their sex drive. It can happen to men too, it may lead to you growing apart but it isn't blameworthy or something you can particularly help IMO. It's any bad/unhelpful behaviour around the issue which may be blameworthy and can be helped.

Offred · 26/04/2014 12:42

*best friend that is

Oblomov · 26/04/2014 12:50

oh sorry. missed that bit.

Darkesteyes · 26/04/2014 16:31

Offred I once talked about my situ to a great female GP who said I deserved better.

And there is an example of a double standard on this thread When I posted about my situ there was an immediate assumption that it was down to my weight.
my weight was nothing to do with it because even after losing it nothing changed with DH.
There are a lot of men who don't like or aren't interested in sex yet there is always the assumption its the womans fault. I also posted a link to a thread from Dadsnet where the woman got asked "Has your physical appearance changed"

Now THIS IS a double standard.

Offred · 26/04/2014 16:33

Yes, that's a point dark! But you must acknowledge male sexuality - they are visual creatures after all!

Offred · 26/04/2014 16:34

Although I suppose that isn't specific to mn, it's more general underlying sexism in society.

Maisie0 · 26/04/2014 16:36

Sexism ?!?! Without an identity or a reference point, I would be a fish (!)

Offred · 26/04/2014 16:42

Or perhaps a person maisie(!)

Darkesteyes · 26/04/2014 16:48

On the Dadsnet thread the woman got asked "Has your physical appearance changed within the first few posts.

32 pages into this thread and the male OP has not been asked the same question.

This speaks volumes.

Maisie0 · 26/04/2014 17:04

Nurture or nature? The loudest wins!
I think, therefore I am a Fish.

Offred · 26/04/2014 17:16

If you'd rather think of yourself as a fish than a person Maisie who is really interested can stop you?

Maisie0 · 26/04/2014 17:36

Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but -none of- your words will --hurt me. It will- just perverse me. Or manipulate me. Welcome to online bun stoning.

Offred · 26/04/2014 17:48

You're the one who called yourself a fish Maisie. Rather than acknowledge that without gender stereotyping you would have an identity simply as a person.

BigBoobiedBertha · 26/04/2014 17:49

'online bun stoning' Grin

Sorry, Maisie, I hope you aren't offended but I've not heard that phrase before and it made me laugh.

I wouldn't mind being stoned with buns. Grin

Fresh ones of course. Possibly with cream or at least currants.

Sorry, people, as you were.

nauticant · 26/04/2014 17:54

It makes me think of rock cakes. Not the worst punishment in the world.

AnyFucker · 26/04/2014 18:00

I like a vanilla slice, myself

Darkesteyes · 26/04/2014 18:07

Chocolate éclair.

Offred · 26/04/2014 18:30

Creme brûlée is the only sweet thing I like really I reckon that'd hurt. Welcome to chuck some meat or cheese at me though...

22honey · 26/04/2014 19:03

cerealqueen, dare to explain? Might aswell take it to PM though rather than keep derailing the thread. 'Not seeing the wood for the trees' with regards to what exactly? Are you going to try telling me you know much more about the issue spoken about than me?