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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 this a “normal” sex life?

99 replies

Purplenurple81 · 22/01/2023 05:55

NC for this but it is a genuine post.

I’m feeling a bit hard done by and I want to know if I should be. I have a much higher sex drive than my OH, pretty much always have had.

For him, it’s generally too much effort (as are most things - another problem for another day).

But I manage to get by, mostly by myself.

This is how things are and I would like advice as to whether it sounds about right or if I am expecting too much. I don’t think I am.

Firstly, if I want any form of attention, I have to ask for it. As in literally “Can we have sex please?”
If I ask in advance, I get told yes, but then he makes an excuse or falls asleep.
He never, ever asks me for it. He stays up watching telly till 1/2am then comes up. So if I am willing to stay awake till then (when I have to be up for work at 6.30) then I can get some.

He is very happy to wank me off (and very good at it) but only if he is laying down and I have to get in the right position, he doesn’t move to me.

He is very overweight so finds PIV difficult but there are some positions it works in. But they are “too energetic at my age” (he’s 42!) so we don’t tend to do it.

He refuses to use condoms because they “spoil the sensation” so I am on the pill, but considering we never have actual sex, I generally don’t bother to take it because it’s just something else to remember for no real reason. On the rare occasions PIV is on the cards, he always stops and asks if I’ve taken it, which kills the mood, and if I have missed one in the last week, he won’t penetrate, he just stops and asks for a wank instead.

He will only give me oral if I am completely shaved, which I don’t particularly like doing because it is uncomfortable when it grows back. And 9/10 I go to the effort and he just doesn’t want to do it anyway.
(I can’t use creams etc because of an allergic reaction once).

But he asks me for it a lot, and I do it, partly because it’s the only thing he shows interest in and I hope it might lead to more.

But, and this is the bit that pisses me off most - he is constantly trying to feel my breasts, and asks me to go out in public with no bra on, or no knickers so that he can cop a feel whenever he likes. He has this thing about me having hard nipples and other people noticing. We will be sitting watching telly and he will say “Show us your tits”.
I HATE all of that and refuse to do it.

We both have busy lives, kids at home etc but I try to find time for us. We go literally months without sex. We probably have some form of intimacy 5/6 times a YEAR and PIV maybe once if I’m lucky.

He promises me the Earth but when it comes down to it, a quick fumble and he’s done.
Last night, both the kids were on a sleepover. So I told him I thought we should make the most of it.

I am quite kinky (I’m into BDSM among other things) and asked him to take control. He slapped my breasts a bit (at my request) then asked for a blow job. I gave him that, he came and then said “There, did you enjoy that?”
I said “What? We haven’t finished yet?”
He said “I have! And you got your slapping, what more do you want?”

Then we basically had a massive row about how I’m too demanding and how he can’t be bothered and I stormed off to the spare room where I’ve been since 8.30 last night. So much for my night of passion.

He refuses to see a counsellor, he says that there’s nothing wrong with having a low sex drive, and he’s always happy to wank me off if I ask, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask for more.

None of us are getting any younger and I’m seriously considering going and getting some elsewhere but I wouldn’t know where to start.

Any suggestions on what to do, please? Is this pretty much what I should expect with such differing tastes?

OP posts:
asquideatingdough · 22/01/2023 06:19

This does not sound anything like a normal sex life to me and you are not asking too much to have enjoyable sex with your DP. But it sounds like you are totally mismatched in that department. Did you ever feel satisfied, ie when you first got together?

lifeinthehills · 22/01/2023 06:34

No, that doesn't sound normal. He sounds very selfish as a lover and like he degrades you too. I was going to suggest that he might felt better if he got help for his weight, and that might impact his health and sex drive, but I think the issues go well beyond medical issues here.

confessionstoday · 22/01/2023 07:08

As far from a normal sex drive as I could imagine. I'd be leaving.

SuperFly123 · 22/01/2023 07:10

This sounds utterly awful. Does he shave as well before you blow him? I bet he’s a wanker in other respects too. I’d be out of there.

Sleepwalkingintothewall · 22/01/2023 07:16

He hasn't got a low sex drive if he'd asking you for oral all the time, he's just a lazy bastard who has 0 respect for your wants or desires. He clearly is very sexual (the wanting others to see your nipples is either sexual or just wanting to degrade you). Does he watch a lot of porn?

SidSparrow · 22/01/2023 07:18

Get rid of the useless oaf!

something2say · 22/01/2023 07:20

I wouldn't be happy with this I'm afraid. He sounds unattractive and uninterested in proper intimacy...

LunaMay · 22/01/2023 07:24

What do you think he would say to the idea of an open marriage?

GoodChat · 22/01/2023 07:40

It's not just about the awful sex - it's the complete disregard and selfish attitude!

MaireadMcSweeney · 22/01/2023 07:46

No it's not normal, it's terrible. Terrible sex 6 times a year is a waste of a life! Is this what you want forever?!

BearingFalseWitness · 22/01/2023 07:49

Well it’s definitely not normal for me as we are in older than you and my husband is raring to go any time. We both initiate and since our kids are older we usually have sex every day, or at least a few times a week.

ShelaghsCottage · 22/01/2023 07:50

I was married to someone like this and that's one of the reasons they are Past Tense.

It's a mismatch sexually that he isn't willing to try and work at so I'm afraid it's a LTB from me.

TolkiensFallow · 22/01/2023 07:53

It’s either LTB or open marriage

DNBU · 22/01/2023 07:53

Oh no, fuck that OP. Sounds miserable.

ThatshallotBaby · 22/01/2023 07:56

It’s all about him isn’t it?
What about you?

90yomakeuproom · 22/01/2023 08:05

You said he's overweight....Could this be the issue? How overweight are we talking? Is he interested in losing weight?

Squamata · 22/01/2023 08:06

Ick ick ick

The worst bit is you being on the pill for one shag a year, that's so sad! Why doesn't he get the snip if he doesn't like condoms?

I'm guessing he's a slobby fucker in other areas of life too? The staying up until the early hours would piss me off as well.

FirstTimeMum6666 · 22/01/2023 08:17

My dh was overweight at one point but he still had his sex drive and didn't want to stop until he pleased me. He's lost loads of weight now and still the same except even more confident in showing his body etc. I think him losing weight will help a little but your partner still sounds weird no bra in public so he can grope you??
He still seems to have a sex drive for wanting you to blow him he just sounds totally selfish! You shouldn't live like this if you enjoy a sex life.
Don't let him cum until you do that will be one way to sort it. You should know when he is near to do doing so and just stop and suggest putting it in you.
But honestly life is to short if he isn't willing for any of this get rid of him!

Joey69 · 22/01/2023 08:17

That sounds like an awful sex life, you also sound completely mismatched in terms of what you both like

SidSparrow · 22/01/2023 08:20

@BearingFalseWitness

You say now the kids are older we have sex every day or a few times a week.

Does that mean when the kids were younger you didn't do it so much? I'm just curious. I have 2 young children and honestly right now it feels like another thing I have to do, especially since I'm knackered and over touched. Just hoping it won't always be this way. How old were your kids when things perked up a bit?

littleburn · 22/01/2023 08:29

The thing is he does have a sex drive if he's always going on about you going out with no knickers on and groping your breasts (which is awful, and from what you say non-consensual). But his sex drive is all geared towards what he wants and he has no interest in doing what you find satisfying. The being overweight and getting too tired for PIV is only part of the issue - the bigger problem is he's selfish and doesn't see your needs and pleasure as important or equal to his.

That selfishness, combined with the poor communication, staying up until 1am etc doesn't paint a good picture. I assume he's lazy about other things too? I would be beyond the ick at this point and thinking about my options for leaving.

You say about looking elsewhere. As he describes himself as having a low sex drive - and clearly gets off on the idea of other people noticing you - an open marriage might be something he'd be ok with. But it sounds as if this is a man who's emotionally neglectful of you too, so would a FWB or similar basically be an exit affair in all but name?

Alcemeg · 22/01/2023 08:31

The things you each find a turn-on are a turn-off for the other. I'd hate to slap someone if that wasn't my thing.

Add in the contraception fears, and I don't know how you ever do it at all.

His overweight sounds like an issue.

I'm not sure where you'd begin unpicking this one, OP, but it sounds a bit miserable for you both.

Zanatdy · 22/01/2023 08:32

God I couldn’t be with him. That’s not a sex life anyone would be happy with

Alcemeg · 22/01/2023 08:33

(slapping someone is not my thing BTW in case that was ambiguous!) 😊

Watchkeys · 22/01/2023 08:39

Why are you wondering about 'normal'? Your sex life is something you choose the boundaries of. You don't need to concern yourself with normal. If we told you it was normal, would that mean that you'd feel you should keep it as it is, even if you don't like it, @Purplenurple81 ?