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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

Is 49 a reasonable age, for your sex life to be over?

294 replies

AmIaskingfortoomuch · 22/07/2019 20:25

Would love some opinions on this. I'm 49. DH is 46. Our sex life is leaving me wanting (under statement). Having been rejected many times, I have stopped initiating. We tend to go 3 weeks, then I get grumpy, he realises he needs to step up....we have sex...and then another 3 weeks goes by. This is the cycle we are caught up in.

We have had "the chat" a gazillion times. Every time we do have sex, he says how much he misses it (and misses me) and promises to change. But change never happens.

This month I have made a conscious effort not to get grumpy when 3 weeks have passed with no sex. We are due to go on a date on Saturday, and by then it will be four weeks without sex. I'm not saying a word. I'm going to see how many weeks he can go without. I might send him a Congrats card if we make 10 weeks.

Anyway, my real question is whether I'm expecting too much, to have a regular sex life at 49? What age do you think is acceptable for it to be all over?

OP posts:
fantasmasgoria1 · 22/07/2019 23:18

I think its way too young to go without sex. If you have a sex drive and your husband is not meeting your needs then it may be time to move on. My ex stopped wanting sex because he was an alcoholic but after 4 years without I couldn't take anymore and ended it. Its the rejection, the lack of contact etc. Its heartbreaking and I found Demoralising.

Pipandmum · 22/07/2019 23:22

Masterbate? Surely that would take the edge off.
And there is no age when you might expect to stop having sex. But if it’s been this way since you got together then you need to find a mutually agreed solution.

MadCattery · 22/07/2019 23:22

I'm 58, DH 59. We are too tired during the week, but at it every weekend. 49 is too young to give it up!

fantasmasgoria1 · 22/07/2019 23:27

My exes both heavily watched porn. My second ex would watch it all of the time and I would ask him why he would get off to porn instead of wanting sex with me. He said he was just watching it and due to alcohol couldn't get off to it. That's total bollocks in my book. I'm a slim attractive woman so I just didn't get any of his behaviour. My fiance is totally different, doesn't watch porn, fancies me and enjoys having sex.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 22/07/2019 23:32

I can't imagine being too old to want sex. Surely it is about intimacy, in whatever shape or form that takes. Certainly, I would not be willing to be replaced by porn.

Your text was pretty clear. I hope that, whatever happens next, you are okay. Flowers

theworldistoosmall · 22/07/2019 23:34

Menopause and your drive decreases, lol that's funny. Same with guys don't find menopausal females sexy. How does either of these explain oaps still at it to the point that they have hit headlines about the high numbers of std's?

I'm a couple of years younger. I hope I will be still having an active life in my 50's and beyond. I'm now menopausal and my already high drive has increased. Not having to think about birth control and the potential failure has played a huge part in this. 1-2 times a week isn't excessive, but like I said I have a high drive and have sex more than this.

I was in a similar relationship albeit there was no porn involved. The resentment built and built. I felt rejected constantly and I would have gone nuclear if he prefered porn to me. It's not just about feeling unwanted it also impacts you as a person and your self-esteem. He was slowly destroying me internally to the point I couldn't see that anyone would want me. I am not saying intimacy is the be-all and end-all, but once that goes you start to see other issues. So I get why you are posting. And I also understand the sexual frustration. Toys are great, but not a long term solution as you then start to miss the body contact. It becomes less enjoyable.

It's not like this is a recent thing for you. You have tried and it's been discussed and you end up back in the same place. Does he even discuss his reasons why? I know that technically it's his choice, but when you are in a loving relationship then you should be comfy talking about this stuff.

I watch porn a lot, but I don't reject my partner for it. Sometimes we watch together. I know he does when alone, but to watch it instead of having sex, not a chance. He didn't even need to take you to the bedroom, he could have bent you over desk!!

Drunk texting isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it's easier to text than rehashing the same conversation. For some reason when alcohol is involved people are more open. Plus in your case I think this was has saved you an argument.

However, he could also be feeling badgered and like you only want him for sex. Hence having an open dialogue about the whys is important. For him, because he doesn't want children the potential for an accident plays on his mind. But of course, this is just conjecture.

It seems you have reached that crossroads. Do you stay or do you go. You mentioned you want a divorce in the text. The question is is there enough in the marriage to continue like this for the next 10 years. When I asked myself that same thing, it wasn't. It wasn't just about the sex, but that closeness of kissing, cuddling, the emotional support and curling up together to watch something. It's like when the intimacy dies so does the romance. It becomes more that you feel like you are lodgers.

TheStuffedPenguin · 22/07/2019 23:37

*Menopause might fix this issue for you anyway.

49 is the year of being super super horny according to The Hot Topic prior to everything drying up.*

Don't be ridiculous Grin way past that and I am having the best sex ever of my life.

Orlandointhewilderness · 22/07/2019 23:41

Good luck OP. Good message too - I would feel so bloody rejected at that.

DoomInTheMoon · 22/07/2019 23:46

MN generalises so much ....... sigh.
I’m past menopause and my libido has gone crazy. So there.

Kangaroo1970 · 22/07/2019 23:49

I’m not sure if chats work.

Maybe if you thought about sex as a very slow burner? Focus on just feeling intimate and nice with your partner? Tell him no pressure at all for next few months for sex. Just redial it back. But that you’d like loads more time to just do fun stuff together.

Then just have fun. Give each other massages? Don’t they recommend that on tv? Feel good yourself. Be active, go for walks, swims or runs together.

It starts with the mind doesn’t it, sex. It can take a while to rekindle.

Zofloraqueen27 · 22/07/2019 23:49

I speak from experience. If you decide to stay with this uncaring, cruel, neglectful husband think about your future life should he become ill or disabled sometime in the distant future.

How will you feel being solely responsible for his care, both physical and emotional. You could well be expected to wash and care for him, wipe his bottom and provide three meals a day. In addition you will be responsible for his mental well-being too. Making sure he is kept active and engaged with his now disable life is another difficult task.

What I am trying to say is HE might very well expect you to be his carer and look after his needs - when he never really cared about your needs.

I know marriage or indeed any partnership should not be a “tit for tat” relationship but believe me it is both sad and challenging to care for someone when they need support when you never received what you needed, and did not care enough for you to make you feel attractive and loved while they were able.

HarmlessChap · 22/07/2019 23:51

Some of that message was fine but the oral bit was a bit ott people shouldn't be made to feel guilty about failure to perform certain sex acts their partner may want.

I went 2.5 years without sex, or any real affection, the net result is we have separated.

Constant rejection screws with your self-esteem so you have my sympathy, divorce is probably the best way forward.

madcatladyforever · 22/07/2019 23:59

Menopause fixed it for me at 45. I never wanted sex again after that and prefer to live alone.

MissSunnyDays · 23/07/2019 00:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Whosorrynow · 23/07/2019 00:13

@zoflora I agree with your point, I think that this is an indication of underlying issues, he fundamentally doesn't care about your needs so you can't really trust him to be fair because he will always put himself before you whether it's reasonable to do so or not

gettingtiredofthisworld · 23/07/2019 00:16

Everyone has different sex drives, doesn't mean your not loved, there is obviously been some barriers built that just need to be broken to break the cycle a bit

RogueV · 23/07/2019 00:24

Screw that 49 is no age!

daisyboocantoo · 23/07/2019 00:32

Hope all is ok OP

hadthesnip2 · 23/07/2019 00:39

Late to the party one this one but totally agree & support you OP. I'm 52 & have a strong sex drive. Divorced for 9 years & last proper relationship ended 18 months ago. Since then I've done lots of OLD & had some great sex. Women over 50 dont just shrivel up they get better. My situation has sadly changed recently & now have 3 teenage DC's living with me. Had to put my dating on hold but boy am I feeling horny.....and sorry masterbation is no substitute for good sex for whoever suggested OP just deals with it on her own. As for not giving oral.....fuck that. I split up with someone because she didnt like receiving oral.

Anyway......I hope all is ok Op. It was a great text you sent & it needed to be said.

howdyalikemenow · 23/07/2019 00:47

Hope you get some answers op.

seaeagle · 23/07/2019 00:52

You're far to young for this ! I'm 60 and my husband has erectile dysfunction, so my active sex life has been over for 8 years .....but I've still got a sex drive ! I "take care of business" myself with masturbation, but I do wish I could have the real thing sometimes !

pallisers · 23/07/2019 00:55

OP, In one way I hope you went to sleep and didn't have that conversation drunk.

In another way I realise that sometimes we deliberately drink so we can have those awful conversations so maybe you were right.

I'm in my 50s. post menopausal. With dh for 25 plus years. have sex about 2-3 times a week. Sex has always been pretty good as we always prioritised it. Other than the honeymoon years, we certainly weren't at it every day but it was a constant for both of us.

It is the only thing we do with each other that we don't do with anyone else. In the past few years it has been getting better as kids are often out of the house so we feel more free. I can't imagine giving up on sex at 49! That is young.

Noone should be forced to have sex but I'd be fucking pissed at my dh if he refused to have sex with me but spent his time wanking to porn. Better if he just went off sex in total - at least it wouldn't mean he couldn't be arsed trying to engage with the woman he is supposed to love but would rather wank to probably exploited young women having dubiously consensual sex for his delictation.

pallisers · 23/07/2019 00:56

I'm 60 and my husband has erectile dysfunction, so my active sex life has been over for 8 years .....but I've still got a sex drive ! I "take care of business" myself with masturbation, but I do wish I could have the real thing sometimes !

Is there any reason your dh couldn't take care of you rather than you doing it? Just because he can't get to the main event wouldn't he like to give you pleasure and to be intimate with you?

StillMe1 · 23/07/2019 01:16

@pallisers That is the very question I was about to ask. I will be interested to see the response if any.
I was in a relationship with someone with ED and it did not seem to ever cross his mind to consider what I would like. Or perhaps the ED in the man's life and in his head means that no-one is going to get anything

WhenPushComesToShove · 23/07/2019 01:20

Good for you OP. I know very well how self esteem is utterly destroyed by zero intimacy, never feeling fanciable or wanted. I stayed because of the kids but wish I'd had the balls to get out and find a proper relationship. Oh well, back to DIY (do it yourself).