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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

Sexless marriage

53 replies

Sunnyspells · 25/08/2017 10:03

Hello, I'm new to mumsnet and need help!
I'm 35 and have been married for 2 years (together for 7) my DH is nearly 48.
He is a lovely husband and I love him. He is very kind and yesterday sent me flowers as I was off work sick. He helps around the house and we take good care of each other and I trust him.
So... we've had sex 3 times this year and last year it was 5 so it is getting less. When we met and before we got married it was regular, exciting and spontaneous.

Now the last 3 times we have had sex he only seemed interested in bed with the lights out. And one time I know he only did it because he knew I was feeling sad. (he pretty much implied that and I felt broken)
He is gaining weight but this bothers him and not me.
I still fancy him and I love him but I feel so lonely, unnatractive and undesirable. It's got to the point where I feel awkward naked infront of him when I dress for work etc. It feels like I'm naked infront of my friend.

He comes to bed really late and I think he is avoiding me and/or sex. He sometimes jokingly touches me and giggles but I know it won't go anywhere so I don't respond. I think that's his way of reassuring me but it makes me feel worse.

I have spoken to him about it once before and I told him how I felt and he looked really upset and said he still loved me and fancied me and apologised. He said he would try harder. We still haven't had sex.
I think he knows it's a problem, there's a slight awkward atmosphere but he seems to be avoiding it. I'm really concerned that he's just not interested in sex and this would be a problem as I am! If he's not interested I'm terrified I could potentially have a divorce on my hands. He is lovely in every way and this would be devastating for us both. I would never be unfaithful but I find myself looking at other men as I'm craving physical contact and I feel upset with myself for doing this as my eyes have never wondered since I met him. I'm crying a lot on my own and don't like to look at my body anymore whereas before I liked my appearance naked wobbly bits and all!
Is anyone else having the same problems?

Any advice from experience would be

OP posts:
TrailingWife · 25/08/2017 18:26

It is NOT about his age. I'm in my 50s, as are most of my friends. Everyone is still doing it all the time. It's easier with the kids off at university. In general, the men have higher sex drives than the women at this age.

I think he needs to go get a physical and make sure that he is healthy. There might actually be something wrong.

Then, I think you need to find out what kind of porn he is watching. I think it's possible that he is gay. His behavior is not typical of mature, heterosexual men.

MeMeMeMe123 · 25/08/2017 18:41

Come to think of it....my ex hated 'fluids', exited me as soon as possible ie; didnt 'rest' inside me after climax, wouldn't give oral, preferred doggie style and kept his eyes closed throughout. On the rare occasions we did it... (maybe 10 times over 5/6 years)

He denies hes gay though. i believe he is and have rarely been proven wrong about my instincts in our relationship. I put up with stuff in spite of them. Never ever again.

Skiddaw64 · 25/08/2017 19:11

Porno is easy, constantly available and offers a quick release.

I am male and started using it regularly a few years ago when under a lot of pressure with work. This inevitably led to the same problems with my partner that you are experiencing now.

Is he under a lot of stress? I realised the damage I was doing to my relationship and managed to quit the stuff cold turkey.

Luckily I had a very understanding and loving partner who was not judgemental with me despite the fact my actions had obviously hurt her.

Once I gave up porno it wasn't long before I began to desire a proper, real life sexual relations again. The other helpful thing I learned to do was to find other outlets to help me manage my stress.

I wish you all the best

Sunnyspells · 25/08/2017 19:20

No stress as far as I'm aware, things are pretty good. I'm upset because I have spoken to him before and I can tell he knows I'm sad about it. I am understanding and I wouldn't judge him for using porn, I've looked at it myself in the past when I was single. I think after the earlier incident porn may be problem. Thank you skiddaw

OP posts:
Pebbles1989 · 25/08/2017 19:32

This is a very good (if depressing site): yourbrainonporn.com

I've been in the same place as you. The relationship ultimately did not survive and my self-esteem is wrecked.

GoldenOrb · 25/08/2017 19:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TrailingWife · 25/08/2017 19:40

There is a really big difference between looking at porn once in a blue moon, and spending so much time with it that you can't be bothered to have real sex with a real person who loves you.

Picklemuncher · 25/08/2017 19:53

I always think the real underlying this type of problem is the inability to communicate. If he could just tell you honestly what the problem is so that you can decide how to deal with it. He needs to grow up and work with you whatever the actual cause. If he doesn't want sex anymore he needs to be blunt about it.

moomoo85 · 25/08/2017 19:54

It is worth talking to him about what is going on. Obviously raise the porn issue. But also I would suggest getting him to his GP. There are a few hormone problems that can lead to weight gain and low libido which might be worth exploring.

Picklemuncher · 25/08/2017 19:55

Don't live like this OP any longer than you have to -- the point of marriage is not to feel lonely or hungry for affection!!

TrailingWife · 25/08/2017 20:08

@pebbles1989 the site you linked is very interesting. I just watched the TED talk on it.

I'm sorry for what you've been through.

gamerchick · 25/08/2017 20:17

*After the age of 40 sex is not the be all and end all of everything. There are other things to think about

Speak for yourself Hmm personally I want it MORE now in my 40s than ever.

Good luck in your chat OP. Don't falter, don't let him wave you away. He needs to know what's at stake here.

It's a deal breaker for me personally and the husband knows it is, all cards were laid out a long time ago. Physical problems I can deal with as long as they're addressed and other solutions found... there are other ways to have sex. No intimacy in any form is the death of relationships.

Princesspinkgirl · 25/08/2017 20:20

Op ive also been there im sorry it wont improve

Skiddaw64 · 25/08/2017 20:30

Can't believe the number of people queueing up on here to tell you that your marriage is over.

Theirs might be, but yours still has a chance. If he will discuss it with you then you can fix it

Pebbles1989 · 25/08/2017 22:16

Discussing it is only the first step, though. My ex swore blind that he'd stopped using porn, but he was lying. He used it every day for months before I found out.

Like any addiction, it's possible to beat it (excuse the pun!) but it's difficult, and very much tied up with shame and the impulse to hide it.

Dadaist · 26/08/2017 10:04

I think you need to discuss this head on - 48 is no age to lose interest in sex!
If his porn use is getting between you then you are going to feel hurt and rejected - and he will feel guilty and ashamed, and it may then be hard to make progress. So it may help to try to be open - and discuss what he gets from it that he can't share - and whether it affects his desire for you. You may have to delve into the places that we usually hide, and it could be difficult for both of you. You need to be able to tell each other what you both want.
You have every right to want a mutual sexual relationship with your DH and the pain of rejection is crushing. Good luck OP!

balsamicbarbara · 26/08/2017 11:25

Skiddaw64 I know, right? I've seen so many similar threads here over the years where the woman doesn't want sex and oddly it doesn't just jump to ending the relationship but more into what help does she need etc Hmm

ShatnersWig · 26/08/2017 11:29

Skiddaw Those of us saying it's probably over are those of us who have been in precisely the same situation and most of us tried to communicate and got one of two messages: "I just don't want it any more" or "I'll try". The latter never happened for most of us. So we got out. Usually after years of being made to feel totally unloved, undesired, disrespected and that we were flatmates and just expected to put up with it.

Isetan · 26/08/2017 11:42

If you want him to take it seriously, you have to too. Stop accepting his excuses and if it is a deal breaker, than you have to clearly say so.

At the end of the day, if he doesn't want to sleep with you, he doesn't have to, just as you don't have to stay in a relationship that doesn't include sex.

It takes two to have a sexless marriage, the party that accepts little or no sex, is also part of the relationship dynamic.

Pebbles1989 · 26/08/2017 13:32

Shatners - exactly. The sub-Reddit "dead bedrooms" is another really interesting read. So many people are going through this.

Footle · 26/08/2017 18:55

You say he's put weight on. It's possible he's developing type 2 diabetes, which can lead fairly quickly to erectile dysfunction. Another reason to go to the GP.
I'm twice your age, OP, and my DH is even older. Sex is still a major thing in our life together.

SingleYoungMummy · 26/08/2017 19:23

Have you confronted him about the porn issue? He obviously does have some sort of drive if he is watching that. With my EX it became an obsession whereby he was watching it until all hours of the morning and lying about it.

Gre8scott · 26/08/2017 21:12

Its awful ours died with the birth of our faughter and she is 4 now. I have never really enjoyed sex but i miss being wanted. Sadly my husband has a mh issue which is bigger than me and more important than me he gets up at 5 and i lie awake crying cos im alone and hes asleep now cos hes so tried and im alone . ithought it would improve but it doesnt. My daughter goes to school nx year and if things are still dead im leaving it kills you inside

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 27/08/2017 06:54

Hi OP

3 years ago.I could have written your post. Dh and I have been together for 24 years, and have dc aged 21 and 19. Our sex life dwindled after the birth of the dc until sex only happened a few times a year - maybe 5 or 6 at best. One year it was 3 times.

About once a year dh and I would have a long discussion about it which always ended in a blazing row. Dh could never really explain why his sex drive had dropped so low. I felt very unloved and rejected. He would promise to try to improve things but nothing ever changed.

However, apart from the lack of sex, our marriage was great in every other way I loved dh, he loved me, we had good fun together, parented our dc together. About 6 years ago I decided I had to make a decision - either leave dh because I couldn't bear the idea of going through the rest of my life with little/no sex, or accept the situation and try not to resent it, but live in a sexess marriage that was otherwise good. I chose the latter. My stipulation to dh and to myself was that sex would be completely off the agenda. One of the very hard things to come to terms with was the sporadic sex, because every time it happened, I would be hopeful that it was the start of a more regular sex life but it never was. Taking sex out of the equation completely helped me a lot.

And then about 2 -3 years ago, things changed again. We went away for a weekend and ended up having sex. I was very upset as I didn't want to get back into the cycle of occasional sex followed by weeks of being rejected. However, when we got back home the sex continued. We now have a reasonably active sex life - probably about 6-8 times per month which is fine. We both work full time and do a lot of sport so that feels right for us and it's much better than it was.

Dh cannot explain why his sex drive was so low for so long, nor why it seems to hsve come back. He is now 55 and seems to habe no problem getting/maintaining an erection. I am as certain as I can be that no other woman was involved. He only got his own smartphone this year - previously the only phone he had was his work phone and he absolutely would never have used that to access pornography so I'm certain that wasn't the issue. He had a vasectomy after the dc were born so no fear of another pregnancy.

The one thing I have noticed is that our sex life dwindled conpletely as the dc got older. When they were little they were really good sleepers and never woke in the night. However, as they got older they stayed up later and dh never wanted to have sex when they were awake. He never cited this as a reason but I think the two are connected. In the last couple of years, the dc have been out much more in the evebings so we have the house to ourselves. Also, being teenagers they have slept in really heavily in the mornings and dh definitely prefers sex in the mornings.

So, I don't know what my advice to you really is. I made the decision to live in a sexless marriage which I found very sad, but ultimately wanted dh/my marriage more than I wanted sex. However, I wouldn't say that was right for everyone, just for us. It did get much easier once I made the decision that sex was completely off the agenda. And then of course things finally came good for us. But I didn't anticipate that when I made the decision to stay in my marriage.

If you don't feel that you can live for the next 40 years without sex, then don't stay. I am still quite resentful at times about the fact that I lived for years with almost no sex, but then remind myself that it was ultimately my choice to stay in my marriage. Now that the dc are grown up, I do wonder if I would have continued to stay if our sex life hadn't improved.

Desmondo2016 · 27/08/2017 08:04

Is it possible he'd realised the severity of the situation and had been watching the porn to get in the mood to come home and ravish you?