Do you think a relationship can thrive if partners have mismatched sex drives or do you think this will ultimately be too big of a hurdle in the long run?
I ask as I'm happy with having sex once or twice a week but my girlfriend of around 1 year would probably prefer it twice a day. We don't live together and have busy work and social lives so this isn't really an option from a practical point of view - that obviously wouldn't be the case if we were to ever live together.
I have brought this topic up in a delicate way on more than one occasion and she always assures me we have enough sex. I can sense she wants more though and fear I will a) leave her unsatisfied, b) knock her confidence and c) cause her to feel resentment.
I'm 15 years older than her and are therefore conscious there is an inescapable power imbalance at play. I'm also aware she has not had good romantic relationships in the past so I'm worried she may overlook her true needs and desires because she has a low bar on what makes a good relationship and ultimately believe this is good enough for her.
On the flip side, I like to be intimate in other ways (in private) - holding hands, cuddling, giving a massage etc. I don't feel I can do this as frequently as I'd like to however for fear my girlfriend will then expect it to lead to sex.
Has anyone here had experience from either side of this and did you manage to work around it? I'm sure communication is key in all this but it can be tricky to navigate.
Thanks