Do you NEED to be completely comfortable with your own body to have really good sex?

[SomethingToTalkAbout]

I have a few things I'd prefer to change about my body, not even in that major a way really, (fairly common I guess?) but I think I do spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about them.

Is it possible to learn to really be able to "let go" and just be happy being naked with your DH/DP, even though you aren't completely comfortable with your body?

Is this actually necessary in order to have a really fulfilling sex life?

Is there anyone who can honestly say that, although they don't like their body, they are completely comfortable being naked and are having amazing sex with their OH (or even with a FB) in spite of their hang-ups?

I feel like I always have part of my mind on my body dislikes during sex, and although it's good, I'm sure it would be better if I wasn't only 80% there during.

When I met my DP he was cripplingly selfconscious after an abusive marriage ended. He has a disfiguring condition that bothered him a lot as his DW had mocked him about it.
Initially I noticed it but after a couple of months it seemed to vanish! I had ignored it, he had become happier in his skin and the change in attitude made it so unimportant it ceased to be an issue. He still has it but it makes no difference to us. Now he has his confidence back he is a different man to the one I met (sexier and happier and carefree).

I think it is all in the mind. I'm a flabby fiftysomething mother of three but in bed I am an animal

I HATE my body but that doesn't stop me having fantastic sex. Despite my hang ups I have a different type of confidence when it comes to sex

Well....when we were newly-weds we went "clonk". Now we go "boing". My nostrils are unruly, our joints crackle, massage is more orthopaedic than erotic.

But now, as then, we finish up going "mmmmm".

I am astonished and very encouraged at all these people saying they hate their bodies and still have good sex and feel confident and happy. This is a complete revelation to me.

I have never felt anything other than utterly repellent physically-- I do a good job of covering it up. But I have always felt too ugly for sex. I know it's not rational and obviously men have wanted to have sex with me. But I always assume that I am a poor substitute for someone better looking and it's made it difficult for me to relax during sex.

Thanks ladies you are fab...

Oh, Newname,sweetie! That is so sad! Sex isn't about how good looking you are! Really! And in my experience most men prefer sex with someone they are emotionally close to that someone with fantastic plastic tits!
Where do we all get this from?

I like my body more now, but when I was very bothered, it didn't affect my enjoyment in bed, oddly. I was too busy enjoying myself, even when my self-esteem was at rock bottom. Like Redglitter says, it seemed to be another part of my brain I was using.

HappenStance asked "how do other halves feel about being with a less-than-perfect body?" - surely most of us can answer that too? Or does everyone else sleep with David Beckham/Angelina Jolie lookalikes? Rationally speaking, my current partner has a bit of a belly, is losing his (greying) hair on top but is covered with it everywhere else, has the usual bumps, spots and scars, wonky teeth - but unrationally speaking, he looks amazing and I can hardly keep my hands off him.

Not all men are body-confident either.