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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

I don't know how to talk to my dp about sex

54 replies

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 31/05/2014 23:17

And I know that makes me sound like an 18 year old but I don't.

Dp is lovely, we've been together 5 years and have a good life but not a good sex life.

Contraception is a bit of an issue (whole other thread and I'm researching options atm) as dp would like to go back to using withdrawal (I have a perfect 28 day cycling and we were happy pre ds but I can't fall pg atm - it would be disastrous) so we've settled on condoms which isn't ideal for either of us.

Things are hopefully getting back on track after a drought but sex has always been a bit samey and kind of silent. .. I need this to change.

We had a kiss and cuddle last night (no sex as I'm on and didn't fancy it) but I tried to start a bit of sexy chat Blush tmi I know - but there was no response at all, he just clammed up.

We both said a bit later it would be great to get some of the old passion back but, although we used to do it loads and really enjoy it there's never been any adventure.

I was lying desperately wanting to say I'd like to maybe try some toys or films but the words wouldn't come out!

It's ridiculous - I adore the man but this is (literally) frustrating the hell out of me!

Am I pathetic? Please teach me how to get a better sex life!

OP posts:
BobPatandIgglePiggle · 01/06/2014 00:56

Joan - please don't take this the wrong way but I'm so glad it's not just me and dp.

I've never openly come out and said what I want to any man, although with some it's been more intuitive.

Tmi but when we do have sex I enjoy it and I come but I come easily so I think dp has been lulled into thinking this means I'm totally satisfied

OP posts:
Bindibach · 01/06/2014 01:13

Have you asked him if there is anything that he would like you to do sexually?
How about sending him a letter type thing. Maybe that would help rather than going straight in with what seems to be an awkward discussion for,the two of you Smile

tellmesomething · 01/06/2014 01:29

Wow Joan you just described me! Sometimes I'll mentally prep myself all day and I choke up and can't say a word when I have my chance. I've been like that with every partner not just dh. I've noticed I have it with confrontation too ( I don't associate one with the other)

PlantsAndFlowers · 01/06/2014 02:10

Do you people never get drunk with your partners?

joanofarchitrave · 01/06/2014 02:43

Not often Plants, as dh is on medication and can't drink much. British and unable to get shitfaced - it's incredible that we're together at all.

goodasitgets · 01/06/2014 02:54

Agree with what a poster said above, ask him - the conversation about getting passion back is a good opening
I had a long relationship with a man who was a bit worried to ask me anything. He built it up that much I had visions of him requesting something I would have to google Grin
Turns out he wanted me to wear a nice dress and stockings. My response of "is that it? Of course!" seemed to open the bloody floodgates then Grin and we had a few discussions over various things
Mainly I go with talking about things, occasionally I resort to mute when it's not good, lavish praise when it is. That probably makes him sound like a small puppy but things such as "gentler" need a little more defining that "wear heels"

He may have clammed up on sex talk as he's embarrassed or doesn't like it or didn't know what to do back. But you can't know until you ask him

StairsInTheNight · 01/06/2014 04:12

I agree, go out and get drunk! Much easier to talk about it then.

newnameforanewstart · 01/06/2014 05:25

I tend to go by the saying if your old enough to have sex you are old enough to talk about it.

Think there are a few issues here op to be honest.

Is it that YOU are not happy with the silent samey kind of sex or that BOTH of you are not happy with the silent samey kind of sex. Is the big issue to be honest. Because if your both not happy then great and its an easier thing to broach, if however, you DH is happy and YOU are not then it can be trickier to broach.

What is it you REALLY want? boil it down to single words, kinky, talking dirty, role play, anal etc. etc. etc.

Has there been even one occasion when DH has curled your toes and done something you really liked and would like more of?

If so then NOT in bed, and when you are both able to talk, feel calm ect, all you need to do is say something like "hey remember x,y,z time we we/ you did a,b,c That was sooo hot, I still get off thinking about it. You fancy trying it again?" its positive but also helps to guide him into what you like.

If you want to spice things up a bit, then what turns you DH on? Do you know? Does he like, stockings suspends, kinky lingerie, etc etc. Then how about wearing something that turns him on and then being a little provocative? eg, the next time you are out for a meal, try winding him up a bit, playing footsie under the table etc. etc. Whispering what you want to do him when you get home etc. Bet you don't get to as far as desert.

In a loving caring relationship, talking about sex should be as easy as talking about anything. All you have to do is find the words.

"So how about we play around with some toys". Might be easier start with something like foreplay dice (basically body parts on one dice and instructions on the other) they are fairly no threatening to anyone but are a good start and since the whole idea is too do what they dice tell you it might open up new avenues. There is loads of different types of dice have a look here www.lovehoney.co.uk/product.cfm?p=22274 keyboard issues mean you will have to copy and paste.

There are also some great board games (don't be fooled) have a look at " Monogamy: A Hot Affair" and "Nookii" both good starting points to having fun, trying a few different things, no threating, and can be Oh So hot, they would help you open up conversations into other things you'd like to try.

If all else fails then "DH, I love you BUT sex has got a bit samey for me and I want to try x,y,z like a,b,c is there anything you would like to try. Is probably your best bet"

Yes btw couples do talk about sex, DP and I talk about, when we are doing it, when we are thinking about it, when we want to try new things, when one of nips to the shops - the other has been known to text etc. We as a result have a great sex life that works for BOTH of us and I have never been happier!

The hardest thing to do is to start the first conversation, but doing it ohhhh so worth it!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 01/06/2014 06:56

The best sexual relationships are the ones where there is plenty of communication. Doesn't always have to be said out loud in words of one syllable. If you're with someone compatible & considerate for any length of time, the better you should know each other's likes and dislikes; through trial and error if nothing else. But if you're sexually on different pages - which you appear to be - you may have to spell it out.

Possibly 'over the muesli' isn't the right setting but there's nothing wrong with asking questions when you're intimate. 'What do you like?' is a pretty easy conversation starter and, assuming you get a positive response, leads on to saying what you like. If it's all one-sided, if they don't seem to be bothered what you want, or you get no feedback whatsoever, that's the time to worry.

Dinnaeknowshitfromclay · 01/06/2014 07:15

OP. I think you misread Cogs post at 03.29. When she opened with 'It's not 'our' problem, bit. She didn't mean it's not our (as in Mumsnetters) she meant our as in your and your DPs problem. If you re-read it, you will see what I mean or what Cog meant, or not, Hell, I'm confused now but has a see anyway......

CogitoErgoSometimes · 01/06/2014 07:23

You're quite right PP..... :) One person ('I') can't fix a two person ('our') relationship single-handed.

Joysmum · 01/06/2014 09:03

My DH and I have had issues in the past, I felt unable to let go, like it was dirty and embarrassed and inadequate. DH was like a child in a sweet shop, loved me do completely and loving sex. I felt not good enough for him and a let down whereas he couldn't understand why as I was all he ever wanted, I only wanted the best for him and I wasn't it. I felt so guilty.

One great thing we did was to have evenings where we divited ourselves purely to the pleasure of the other. If he were ask me, 'what do you like?' I couldn't have told him because of my previous issues. However if he said 'do you like this or do you prefer that? Is this the right place, the right pressure, the right speed?' Those are all questions I could answer.

Things did improve. We found that by considering sex from 2 different aspects, making love and technical sexual pleasures we were able to improve. The making live bit is the mainstay but the training evenings and improving skills didn't take too long to build and was exciting to both if us because it's fun to be pleasured and the most amazing feeling to know you are satisfying the person you love.

We are now 20 years on, we have a very satisfying and varied sex life. Sex is fun and more satisfying than it was 20 years ago because we know how to please each other in lots of different ways. We haven't always been into the same things and that's fine, we concentrate in what we both like.

Roussette · 01/06/2014 09:16

BobPandigglepiggle you say this He's not come up with suggestions because he doesn't really know there's a problem because 'I don't know how to talk to dp about sex'. Don't put all the blame on yourself. As much as you feel you might not be able to talk to your DH about sex - he doesn't know how to answer you when you do try to talk about it. There seems to be some miscommunication and it takes two to tango, it isn't just you that is struggling with this - he is too.

You sending him a text telling him he's hot was met with a lukewarm response when you were expecting more. There's some great advice from others on here.

IloveJudgeJudy · 01/06/2014 15:30

When DH and I were first together, he started a conversation while we were driving somewhere. He just started with "Can I ask some technical questions?" which I thought was great and very grown-up. Perhaps you could do the same. The reason i suggested in the car as it's the same with DC. Sometimes you can have the deepest conversations 1:1 with them in the car as you can't look straight at each others' faces and that sort of overcomes the possible embarrassment factor.

ForeskinHyena · 01/06/2014 17:46

DP will say to me in bed (either before or afterwards) "is there anything you'd like me to do that I'm not already doing?" which is a nice unthreatening way to open up a conversation. Could you try that?

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 01/06/2014 18:28

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Tired10years · 01/06/2014 18:29

Nothing breaks the ice like offering some oral.
Maybe in bed or watching tv you could say something like...Oh I don't think I've had you in my mouth for ages...want me to? It's a brave move but a) at least the talking is minimal and b) chances of him turning you down also minimal. It does make the pleasure all his but might be a way to better things.

bubalou · 01/06/2014 18:32

I have bought up things worth DH by saying things like 'is there anything you would like to try - maybe toys, films, dressing up' etc.

That way you are giving him the options. He might not want to say and you don't either so you don't want to end up in a sexless never ending circle. Wink

TheAwfulDaughter · 01/06/2014 18:45

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Nulliferous · 01/06/2014 19:04

'Nasty bitches'?

Steady on, OP.

LoveBeingInTheSun · 01/06/2014 19:08

I think the op just needs to focus on what she can do /try for now if all that fails then yes her dp does need to suck up up so to speak

LoveBeingInTheSun · 01/06/2014 19:09

Maybe you should try asking him for something first, what would you like?

flatbellyfella · 01/06/2014 19:20

Next time you are in town together , pull him into Anne Summers shop & look at the sexy outfits & get him to chose his favourite one that he would like to see you in, tell him you would like to try one of the soft,slim,pink vibrating toys. Maybe you both could do a text sex survey on each other, things like what do you think about when you masterbate , what parts of female anatomy turn you on most. Are there things you have never done to me, that you would like too do. Could we watch an erotic film together one evening, then act it out later. You don't have to use crude words to discribe your feelings, if you find it embarrassing . Would you like to see him dressed to arouse you? Hope you get some results from the MN input.

Joysmum · 01/06/2014 20:06

No one on here has bashed your DP!

I have to admit, having been in a similar situation to the OP's where I was the one with hang ups, some of the responses made me wince and grateful that I am in a strong marriage with a partner so understanding and supportive as the OP is of her DH.

If my DH had had comments directed about me like some if those on this thread he'd be fucking livid too!

Luckily, like my DH, the OP loves her partner, appreciates his good points and isn't taking their issues as something he chooses to be and has come in here asking so a way forwards.

I'm living proof things can improve. It's all very easy to have opinions on things you've only read about.

I'm glad my DH saw only the best in me and thought our marriage was worth the time and understanding he took. Back then he didn't know I'd been raped but just reacted to the person he loved without needing to know why I was as I was. He could so easily have dismissed me 'selfish' or 'immature', destined to forever be a poor lover and lamented that I wasn't encouraging. I'm glad he was a far better person than that and looked deeper.

Bindibach · 01/06/2014 21:16

I think her DH being called a poor lover wasn't very nice.