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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

51 replies

vanilla25 · 02/07/2021 22:53

Hi everyone, I am a 43 year old woman with a young son and married to a wonderfully loving, devoted kind man. He is perfect in every which way except I have been in a sexless marriage for 10 years. It didn't happen after a child . He was always this way. When we were dating he went through a long bout of viral illness and I put low libido down to it. We got married within the first year of meeting. On our honeymoon he basically never initiated anything and I remember the rejection stung . Intimacy was there (platonic kisses, hugs, cuddles) and still is but in my memory he has initiated sex maybe 5 times. The first 3 years I tried everything - i mean everything. He would agree, acknowledge and then fall back in the same pattern. Basically in 10 years I've had sex once or twice (if I am lucky) in 6 months and havent had any since 3 years.

He is physiologically/biologically just fine - no issues. We even met a therapist and he only agreed because time had come to have a child ! Again we fell back into the old pattern. The sense of inadequacy, rejection, the craving for someone to be with sexually is intense! I look after myself , am tall , slim ..most people like my face and very particular about hygiene and grooming. Any ways, I have tried everything and don't know what to do. Its so bad that I want to actively look outside marriage. I even discussed with him - all he said was "If it makes you happy then you can go ahead'. Like I desperately wanted him to say "We will work on it...."! I feel really sad and depressed and it really effects all areas of my life now. I love him and our little world but feel desperately sad and stuck because this is also my language of love and desire :(. I have concluded he might be 'asexual' and has finally last month reluctantly agreed he may be but not sure . He is not gay that I am sure of and I have asked him many times. Any bright ideas.

OP posts:
vanilla25 · 03/07/2021 10:27

@Astressedmumoftwo - I am quite sure he is . I’ve researched a lot and he ticks lot of the boxes. He recently reluctantly agreed he may be but he can’t do anything.

OP posts:
JustAnotherOldMan · 03/07/2021 10:40

I was in the same position as you (opposite sex) and it’s soul destroying to be with someone who doesn’t want you in that manner, I managed 2 years before leaving I found being single is much easier than being with someone who someone who doesn’t want you

TedMullins · 03/07/2021 10:57

It does seem like the only option is to take up his permission of finding sex outside the marriage, or leave. Amicable co parenting where both parents are happy seems like a better option than staying in a relationship with this underlying resentment and incompatibilitt

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 10:58

I'll get flamed for this but I think you'd be entirely justified to have an affair.

YouJustDoYou · 03/07/2021 11:05

I'm asexual, and honestly I wish I wasn't. I've never once had any "urges" - it's just never happened, but it makes me really depressed because I wish I did, I wish I was normal. I've been married to the same man for 20 years and whilst it's easier now (he's older and understand more now that it's not because I don't love him that I never initiate, I just forget about sex completely) and I've been able to come to terms with having sex purely for being able to feel close to him (not because I'm horny or anything or need "release"), it's difficult. I feel for you.

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 11:14

I think it's absolutely despicable to marry someone when you're asexual without telling them.

vanilla25 · 03/07/2021 12:18

@JustAnotherOldMan that’s the word “soul destroying” .. glad you found your way out !

OP posts:
vanilla25 · 03/07/2021 12:25

Recently, that’s been my thought process too! And I told him .. thought I will provoke him.. didn’t spur him on he simply said ‘choose carefully’ but to not leave him . I know he loves me but I feel invisible, rejected, undesirable . Anyways , I will have a chat .. one of the many chats I have every few months 🤷🏽‍♀️Thank you for chipping in

OP posts:
JustAnotherOldMan · 03/07/2021 12:27

@vanilla25
Yes, it’s not really about the sex as such, but that’s the obvious symptom of other issues really.
Good luck with whatever you decide

vanilla25 · 03/07/2021 12:33

@YouJustDoYou- I empathise with you . I have researched a lot about it and seeing my own husband I understand . “I forget about sex completely”- that’s fascinating and I think the same must be for my husband , despite me giving lot of cues !! Like last night was an epic fail for me 😂it almost always is. It’s like he can’t read my cues at all or simply not bothered.🤷🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 03/07/2021 12:40

@Audo

A companionate marriage can be a happy marriage.
This one isn't, clearly, so what's the point of saying that?
TedMullins · 03/07/2021 12:50

@Comedycook

I think it's absolutely despicable to marry someone when you're asexual without telling them.
Oh come on. This isn’t what happened here. It sounds like he doesn’t label himself as asexual and possibly doesn’t want to admit that he is, but he’s never pretended to be into sex, he’s never hidden his lack of libido. OP didn’t have to stay for 10 years or even one year if she didn’t like it!
chocolateorangeinhaler · 03/07/2021 13:01

He just isn't that into you. Never has been. You can't 'make' someone want sex with you. It just becomes a big elephant in the room in the end.

If you love him and truly want to be with him you need to get honest and have a conversation along the lines of your original post. Either you both accept that you have needs he can't fill and put up with being miserable or stay but explain that you will be getting those needs met even if it means a FWB situation. If he can't handle that then it's time to move on.

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 14:44

Oh come on. This isn’t what happened here. It sounds like he doesn’t label himself as asexual and possibly doesn’t want to admit that he is, but he’s never pretended to be into sex, he’s never hidden his lack of libido. OP didn’t have to stay for 10 years or even one year if she didn’t like it!

Remember the old saying, if you love someone, set them free. Shouldn't have trapped them in the first place imo.

TedMullins · 03/07/2021 15:05

@Comedycook

Oh come on. This isn’t what happened here. It sounds like he doesn’t label himself as asexual and possibly doesn’t want to admit that he is, but he’s never pretended to be into sex, he’s never hidden his lack of libido. OP didn’t have to stay for 10 years or even one year if she didn’t like it!

Remember the old saying, if you love someone, set them free. Shouldn't have trapped them in the first place imo.

How did he trap her exactly? She said he had a low sex drive right from the word go!
HaggisBurger · 03/07/2021 15:09

I left over this. (And other issues but I couldn’t get over this). It’s a very selfish thing (he tried NOTHING to deal with it despite my pleas, it was all down to me) and highlighted to me how selfish he was around other things. I will NEVER put up with this again.

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 15:29

How did he trap her exactly? She said he had a low sex drive right from the word go!

Yes she knew but he should have also realized that he'd never be able to make her entirely happy and let her go and find happiness elsewhere. However, he gets all the convenience and social status of having a wife on his terms.

TedMullins · 03/07/2021 15:53

@Comedycook

How did he trap her exactly? She said he had a low sex drive right from the word go!

Yes she knew but he should have also realized that he'd never be able to make her entirely happy and let her go and find happiness elsewhere. However, he gets all the convenience and social status of having a wife on his terms.

Or she could’ve realised she’ll never make him happy because she wants sex when he doesn’t. Works both ways
Anothernick · 03/07/2021 17:30

I feel quite sorry for the OPs DH - anyone who cannot experience the intense physical and psychological satisfaction that comes from sex is missing out on one of the best things life has to offer. My ability to satisfy my DW and gain satisfaction myself is fundamental to my masculinity and I think most men would say the same. Imposing celibacy on your DP without a good reason would be a deal breaker for many people.

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 18:21

Or she could’ve realised she’ll never make him happy because she wants sex when he doesn’t
Works both ways

I disagree because sex is a normal expectation in a marriage. He should have realised that his preference is more unusual than hers.

TedMullins · 03/07/2021 20:08

@Comedycook

Or she could’ve realised she’ll never make him happy because she wants sex when he doesn’t Works both ways

I disagree because sex is a normal expectation in a marriage. He should have realised that his preference is more unusual than hers.

Some people have low sex drives or are asexual. It’s not a moral failing or something wrong with them. It’s just a different way of feeling about sex. Just because it might not be the majority experience doesnt mean he’s done anything wrong or had a duty to “let her go”, as you put it. It sounds like he was pretty obviously uninterested in sex right from the start, so more fool the OP for staying and expecting him to become someone he isn’t. Would you be saying the same if the sexes were reversed? Would a woman have done a terrible thing to marry a man and not do her womanly duty of shagging him? Don’t think so somehow.
Comedycook · 03/07/2021 20:15

Some people have low sex drives or are asexual. It’s not a moral failing or something wrong with them. It’s just a different way of feeling about sex.

I agree but out of their two opposing sets of feelings, his is generally the more unusual.

Comedycook · 03/07/2021 20:18

Would you be saying the same if the sexes were reversed? Would a woman have done a terrible thing to marry a man and not do her womanly duty of shagging him?

Yes I view it exactly the same. If you are asexual, which is perfectly valid and absolutely fine, your best bet is to find someone who feels the same. There is a general expectation of sex within a marriage so I cannot see why you'd enter into a marriage if you aren't happy with that.

wsbts · 03/07/2021 20:30

The problem is eating away and will possibly have even worse affects than now. Your option is to leave. It seems the only way out to find happiness and sexual fulfilment which you deserve.

You can talk this to oblivion but that's it I am afraid.

Good luck OP

Regards

vanilla25 · 03/07/2021 20:56

@TedMullins - He seems very content and happy because I don't pester him regularly . It's only once in few months I raise the issue, encouraging him to get a checkup done and counselling for both of us. He always has had the upper hand and power in this situation by witholding or not responding. Any ways, thank you for your inputs. I know what I have to do. Just have to gather courage...

OP posts: