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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

How do you deal with different expectations about sex in a relationship?

18 replies

Krabbie · 26/02/2021 18:52

If you're in a loving relationship, but one of you wants to have sex more than the other, how do you deal with it?

I'm in this situation. My libido has dwindled, partly due to hormonal changes, but my partner would still have sex every night. I love him and want us to find a compromise we're both happy with and that doesn't put pressure on me, so just wondered how others deal with it.

OP posts:
Magnificentmug12 · 26/02/2021 18:57

Suffer in silence.

I have a high drive but DH don’t and I just have to live with it really, it’s sucks because it’s not so much about the sex (although it is) it’s more about feeing not wanted. I could leave but it’s not worth it- he makes me feel loved just not in the bedroom department.

I would love to go back to when we had sex often- damn pandemic!

Keepithidden · 26/02/2021 19:05

You can't make a low libido person compromise. It doesn't work that way, the higher drive partner just has to accept it.

Krabbie · 26/02/2021 19:11

Sorry to hear that magnificent. Are you still happy though? How do you deal with it?

Keep I get what you mean. I'm wondering if frequent hand jobs for example are the way round it. We are happy otherwise, love each other, but I don't want the relationship to suffer because of this.

OP posts:
category12 · 26/02/2021 19:15

Can't he just wank? Won't you grow to feel a bit resentful if you're servicing him as if it's a chore?

Onelifeonly · 26/02/2021 19:17

I'm not sure it's ideal, but the one who wants it more can "sort themselves out".

NeedToGetOuttaHere · 26/02/2021 19:26

We’re the other way around and it sucks. As others have said the person with the lower sex drive is in charge (can’t think of a better way of saying it) of how often you do it. Also when you have sex because it’s hard to then so no when they are up for it as you’ll miss the opportunity. That also causes problems . Speaking from the ‘husband’ perspective it really does lead to a lot of resentment. Having a wank doesn’t do the trick.

Daisy778 · 26/02/2021 19:29

Surely the intimacy has to be mutual otherwise it feels resentment. I agree, you need to compromise and a 'hand job' could be the way forward, but only if he feels you want to do that for him and not 'have to' as part of your (mutual) compromise otherwise it would not be fulfilling for either party longer term.

Fucket · 26/02/2021 19:33

I think it’s best dealt with understanding of each other’s view point, and realising that as humans we are not all sexually at the same place every single day of our lives. Stress, illness, hormonal changes etc all fluctuate and have an effect on both partners. Sod’s law being that it’s never at the same time for both of you. It’s probably normal to go through difficult patches.

I think compromise on both sides would probably be my suggestion. I know some people say you shouldn’t feel obliged to, and no I suppose you shouldn’t. But on the flip side a partner is not obliged to remain in that marriage if they’ve been made to feel shut out.

communication without accusations is a good place to start.

OhioOhioOhio · 26/02/2021 19:34

It's definitely something that needs talked about honestly.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 26/02/2021 19:40

It's an insurmountable issue for me. I left a relationship because of issues largely stemming from this. I causes resentment and and an overwhelming sense of rejection. Suggestions like handjobs and maintenance sex don't resolve it, because that is entirely perfunctory, totally without any sort of meaningful connection, and quickly becomes just as much drudgery and completely off-putting as knowing your partner is never in the mood anyway.

If you have mismatches sex drives, the relationship is as good as over. It's a matter of time before it implodes anyway, no matter how much you try to pretend it'll be ok because of other aspects. One of you is going to get utterly sick of it sooner rather than later.

ChristmasFluff · 26/02/2021 19:57

My marriage ended partly because we hadn't had sex for years - my choice. So I made a conscious decision to join in whenever a partner initiated after that. (obvs not when ill)

I've done that ever since, and I always find I enjoy it when I do. Sex is one of those things (for me) where the more you do it, the more you want it. So I would find myself initiating too.

Been celibate since covid. Don't want sex at all now. But the only way to stoke the fire is to add fuel - when it's safe, and if I have a new partner, I'll be back to having sex whenever. Whether I fancy it or not straight off.

Not saying it will be right for everyone - if you don't get into it when you are started, then fair enough. But I think lots of people think they have a low libido when they just aren't giving themselves chance to get turned on.

cheezy · 26/02/2021 20:03

Did anyone hear Caitlin Moran discussing the benefits of the ‘maintenance shag’? Ie as part of a routine, when you don’t necessarily feel like it, but enjoy once you get going. I like this idea of this.

JustAnotherOldMan · 26/02/2021 20:14

It’s something you have to be actively aware of.
As others say, one partner will feel pestered or pressured to have more sex and the other will feel rejected and unloved as they are being turned down
You will probably have to both compromise on a quality v quantity approach and both be prepared for the highs and lows (no pun intended)

Magnificentmug12 · 26/02/2021 20:15

I wouldn’t say happy- more just drudging along.

“Doing it yourself” does nothing- I can do that 3 times a day and then again the next day but sex with DH does me for a good for roughly 2-3 days- it’s just not the same thing at all and definitely not the answer, I’ve obviously tried that!

I wouldn’t leave because of it as he is exceptional in so many other ways-but the constant rejection and feeling unwanted will eventually wear me down probably.

Kylorey · 26/02/2021 20:17

We're in the same situation. I get stuck in patterns where I could go months and not care. DH would happily have sex daily most of the time. It's really difficult because as others have said the low sex drive partner kind of is in charge. No one wants to have sex when they don't want to, and any loving partner won't want someone to have sex with them when they don't want to. But I find as the one with the lower sex drive there's constant pressure that comes from me, not DH. I feel relief if we did it yesterday because I feel I can go to bed guilt free tonight. From then on its an ever increasing ticking clock and awareness of how long it's been.

What has helped is we are very honest and open. I have been upfront and DH doesn't pressure me. When it's an elephant in the room it's awful. So communication is a big one. We know that DH needs sex not only for the physical side but because the intimacy helps him feel connected to me. It helps him relax. Whereas I feel connected more in other ways, I don't get that as much from sex. And when I'm stressed it's not something relaxing, it's like another job - which is weird because it's great when we do it, it's not a job.

I do think sex is important and while the low sex drive partner shouldn't be pressured, it's reasonable for them to try and explore where it comes from and see if things can be made better. Depends how much it distresses you though. It really bothers me having a low sex drive.

So in that case what helped to start is knowledge of some concepts - brake pedals and gas pedals being one you can Google. The idea is when sex drive is low we pile on the gas pedal - lingerie, low light, toys, basically whatever your thing is. But you'll go nowhere if your foot is on the brake and everyone has different brake pedals. Stress, a difficult work meeting scheduled the next day, the kids possibly waking up etc. Identifying your brake pedals helps.

The next thing is practicing mindfulness with sex. I tend to "spectator" and it doesn't help. So being open to the present moment and sensations helps. This comes naturally to DH and I think it why he enjoys sex so much.

Finally a gamechanger was understanding Rosemary Basson's model of the sexual response cycle. There is a great article here sexologyinternational.com/taking-a-closer-look-at-bassons-model-of-the-sexual-response-cycle/
It's more complex than this but the big revelation for me was this idea of responsive sexual desire. From the article:
"Responsive sexual desire is equally as powerful. Responsive sexual desire occurs when one is willing to engage in sex although they are not initially feeling desire or sexually aroused. With sufficient sexual stimuli and appropriate context one can move from a place of neutrality to feeling aroused and desirous."
I find I can feel neutral about sex, then after some time kissing and being close can be very much desiring it. I thought I was weird but actually it's a thing. It's not the same as not wanting it and doing it anyway, it's just being open to the times I feel neutral and giving it a shot. We have agreed if it turns out I don't want to we just stop. So far it's never turned out that I don't want to. But because I went round rarely feeling spontaneous sexual desire I thought I just had none.

Anyway bit of an essay sorry but these things have helped us.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 26/02/2021 20:42

@Kylorey Just wanted to say thank you for your great post, I'm sure that will be of much use to many, many people.

That last link is really really interesting - and of course it totally makes sense, that you can go to "hmm, not horny but okay" to "hell yes, I'm enjoying this!" - it's just like you could be walking along not thinking "I'm hungry" but also "I'm not feeling full up or nauseous" and then someone says "Hey fancy a chocolate brownie?" and you're like "Sure why not... Oh yeah, this is wonderful, I'm so glad you suggested it!"

Krabbie · 26/02/2021 20:52

@Kylorey thank you, that was really helpful. I think that's very important, sometimes I don't feel like it, but after some kissing I do want to. But I get caught up in it feeling like another chore, as a PP mentioned too. I need to change my mindset.

Thanks for all the replies. I don't want there to be resentment on either side.

OP posts:
problematicbehaviour · 26/02/2021 21:23

I’ve always been the one with an insane sex drive and from my perspective it can’t work if the person with a lower sex drive doesn’t try to meet the person with a higher sex drive in the middle, @Kylorey’s post is brilliant in terms of that.
But I will never date anyone again that doesn’t have a sex drive to match mine as it always ends in a fight I don’t want or being perfectly honest, I cheat.
Not having sex can have horrible effects on the person with a higher sex drive, for me it affects my ability to focus, to laugh, to eat, to sleep, to breath really. When I’ve not had sex for a few days I lose myself and get depressed, no other way of love and affection can really replace that high I get.

My only advice would be that if you both agree to having sex “scheduled” in and you do as Kylo suggests, with kissing and being close, and if you don’t feel like it then you can blow it off as long as you’ve tried. If you can’t do that, it has a high chance of not working out.

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