Thought I knew where I stood but not questioning everything *orientation stuff*

[ConfusedNameChanger]

Namchanged regular as this is so embarassing for me and I've not told anyone in RL either. Most people think I am straight. I've always known I like men and women. But men more so. I'm 24 now and have only every slept with one women and a lot of men. But this past year I've felt like there's been a massive shift and I can't get my head around it. I feel really abnormal. I presumed you knew what you were once you got past 20. I've had a 2 year relationship with a man but it didn't feel quite right. I don't want to come off troll-y but naked men make me quite uncomfortable/are a bit gross to look at for me I always presumed that's just because women are generally just nicer looking and straight women feel that way too. But it's gotten stronger this year. I used to consider myself a bi-woman who'd chosen to just not bother with women and that was ok (just because I found it daunting and had less experience). But now I'm single and can't imagine ever sleeping with a man again. I don't really want to. Not sure how I ever managed it either. Excuse the waffling. I just feel like my head's going to explode.

Basically, is it possible to have your sexual-orientation epiphany later than the "norm"? Has it happened to anyone else?

really, Twinkle? I find it hard to get my head around how can someone be gay until 24 and then change to straight, not even to bi? what suddenly happen? could be that he just didn't agree with promiscuity that is often there with very young gays, but if not, very unusual, the change is usually the other way round. Just really curious how it could happen, or did he 'turn straight' because he fell in love with one woman?

I wouldn't worry or overthink it much Confused, you're you, and who you fancy / want to sleep with is who you fancy / want to sleep with, in anyways gender is secondary to that. I know people who've come out at all ages, from early teens (done would even say from early childhood) up to those in 70s who've finally been able to be who they had kept hidden all that time. Oh and welcome to the dark side!

(Just kidding!)
Ps I knew I was a dyke from about 15 or so, but doesn't make me any more gay than someone who realised later, I've just had bit more time for the fun bits of it all

Thanks .

Yeah it's not about gender as much as it is that I generally prefer the compay of women anyway and what women are all about. Men much less so. Especially in relationships. I've never felt a "true" connection to a man and have with a woman. But haven't been sure if that was just bad luck. There are exceptions of course because gender doesn't define who you are 100% but generally that seems to be how I feel.

I also don't think you have to decide what you "really" are, orientation-wise - you can just be comfortable with where you are at the moment. I think there's a lot of pressure to pick a side and stick to it, and if you later find your orientation changing, you are encouraged to pretend that you have only just realised that you were "always" gay/straight/bi/whatever.

For some people, their orientation is what it is and never changes, right from when they were little kids. They are the "I always knew" group, and often find it hard to imagine how someone's orientation could ever change in later life. For other people, who they are attracted to is a lot more flexible and they may have periods in their life where they are more comfortable identifying as gay than straight and vice versa.

I'm definitely from the "flexible" camp. I've been in love with a man. So I know I've not been a 100% lesbian in denial my whole life. I supose it's that attitude that made me sure I would stay the way I was once I was an adult etc. No one really tells you that might make a total change!