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Relationships

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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:
piedbeauty · 22/01/2023 11:25

He doesn't have a low sex drive if he asks you for oral all the time! He is just too damn lazy to make the effort to have sex with you!

No, op, not a normal sex life.
I bet he's this lazy and useless out of bed too - am I right?

Cocobutt · 22/01/2023 11:26

You both sound completely incompatible.

What is your relationship like apart from the sex issue?
As it sounds to me like the relationship has run it’s course.and it’s time to call it a day.

Firstly, if I want any form of attention, I have to ask for it. As in literally “Can we have sex please?”

This is part stood out for me.

Why do you need to ask instead of just initiating it?

Honestly, there is nothing less sexy than when your partner keeps asking you for sex and you may be unintentionally turning him off.

You say you have to wait up for him to go to bed but why can’t you go bed early and then wake up when he gets into bed or have morning sex?

What would he do if you started initiating sex in bed?
Would he push you away?

qwertykeyboards · 22/01/2023 11:42

CakeIsNotAvailable · 22/01/2023 09:42

I don't blame him for asking you about your pill. Presumably he doesn't want another baby. If you wanted to improve matters, you could look at getting reliable contraception in place - if you don't like the Pill, would an implant or coil be better? Certain types of copper coil last 10 years, so they're pretty low-maintenance contraception really.

What's your agenda in deliberately refusing to take the Pill - are you hoping for another baby, or just hoping to make him wear a condom?

What a ridiculous comment. No mention of her husbands total disregard of his own contraception as HE doesn’t like it.

pocketvenuss · 22/01/2023 11:53

@Purplenurple81 Honestly? Because I like sex and have no chance of getting it from anywhere else, is why.
Mumsnet is full of helpful suggestions that just don’t translate into real life.
But don't you need to find a man attractive in some way to want to have sex with him? He sounds rePULSIVE. no matter how much I enjoyed sex, someone like him would firmly clamp my vulva shut

RiverSkater · 22/01/2023 11:56

He sounds like a teenager and a lazy one.

It all sound very transactional but dysfunctional at the same time. No passion.😞

What's the rest of your relationship like, is he caring, considerate, do his share, do you have a laugh?

LaLuz7 · 22/01/2023 11:56

pocketvenuss · 22/01/2023 11:53

@Purplenurple81 Honestly? Because I like sex and have no chance of getting it from anywhere else, is why.
Mumsnet is full of helpful suggestions that just don’t translate into real life.
But don't you need to find a man attractive in some way to want to have sex with him? He sounds rePULSIVE. no matter how much I enjoyed sex, someone like him would firmly clamp my vulva shut

Exactly! Buy a vibrator and leave the man. You'll be 100x more satisfied all around.

Zanatdy · 22/01/2023 12:00

Tunnocksmallow · 22/01/2023 11:15

Oh lovely.

You need to have the conversation with him about him shaping up sex wise, opening up your relationship or you leaving altogether; because if you stay in this relationship, it will gradually destroy you and your self esteem from the inside out.

He is selfish. That’s the crux of it. He’s not concerned at all about you and your desires as long as he gets his.

And, honestly, I thought I would never ever manage to find a sex life again after a relationship breakdown. But, at 43, I’m out here living my best life! If I had known, what I know now, I’d have left years ago, not believed that I deserved to be stuck with a selfish partner.
Go out and live yours. You deserve to be happy!!

Well said. Sometimes you think you have to stay in a shit relationship and nothing better out there. But it’s not true. I’m mid 40’s and having the best sex of my life, after 12yrs being single as after my ex I didn’t want a guy anymore, I went the other way with my anti men stance. Glad I’ve softened my approach for an ex colleague as he’s the most considerate, and exciting lover I’ve had. OP leave this lazy self centred arsehole. You can get sex elsewhere, much better sex than someone who doesn’t give a crap about your pleasure. He hasn’t got a low sex drive, just low respect for you I’m afraid. Higher your standards and move on.

YouJustDoYou · 22/01/2023 12:08

Zanatdy · 22/01/2023 12:00

Well said. Sometimes you think you have to stay in a shit relationship and nothing better out there. But it’s not true. I’m mid 40’s and having the best sex of my life, after 12yrs being single as after my ex I didn’t want a guy anymore, I went the other way with my anti men stance. Glad I’ve softened my approach for an ex colleague as he’s the most considerate, and exciting lover I’ve had. OP leave this lazy self centred arsehole. You can get sex elsewhere, much better sex than someone who doesn’t give a crap about your pleasure. He hasn’t got a low sex drive, just low respect for you I’m afraid. Higher your standards and move on.

All of this. You need that conversation with him, and if he won't budge then you leave him. You are still so, so young, wasting your years with someone who you are utterly incompatible with will just make you more and more miserable as the years drag on.

Laurdo · 22/01/2023 12:26

He clearly does have a sex drive he just wants everything on his terms and for his pleasure without any regard for you. Selfish lazy prick!

And how the fuck does an orgasm equal a slap on the tits! Jeez!

My first marriage was a bit like this in the sense that I got sex maybe once a month and he never initiated it. He'd get me off basically to get me off his back and shut me up, not because he cared about me getting off. He also refused to see the doctor about it. Complained about being tired but would stay up to 2am watching tv. One of the many many reasons he's an ex!

Joey69 · 22/01/2023 12:35

Purplenurple81 · 22/01/2023 10:25

Like we haven’t had that conversation. He refuses because it’s “invasive”. Short of frogmarching him to the clinic, I can’t control that.

so it sounds like he doesn’t want any (more) kids, doesn’t want to use condoms, doesn’t want the snip, doesn’t want PIV sex, sounds like a right dick.
Give him the push.

UseOfWeapons · 22/01/2023 12:52

Sounds selfish. It’s ‘no, consider LTB or asking him to leave’. Doesn’t sound like the relationship is up to much in or out of the bed, tbh.

frozendaisy · 22/01/2023 13:49

Can you just say, calmly, at a time it won't end in a row, "right ok I just want a talk, no arguments please, be we need to start sorting this out, our sex life really isn't working for me, so what are our options?"

And talk, gently from there.

No blame, no tit for tat, just brutal gentle honesty about there here and now

StoppinBy · 22/01/2023 13:59

I'm wondering if your sex life was initially more regular but always with him in control and the winner.

Did he ever care about you and your pleasure?
The reason I ask is, if you are the submissive in this and he us a shitty Dom this kind of thing could easily happen.

I don't think he has a low sex drive at all, he just demands sex in ways that pleasure him and leave you hanging.

If you want to stay with him, if he is open to an open relationship, there is plenty of guys out there who would love to be a part of that, offer to take a couple of photos for your hubby, it sounds like he might like it from the other stuff you describe.

Plenty of shitty wannabe Doms though so do get to know someone a little first if you do it and wanted to introduce BDSM.

Whadda · 22/01/2023 14:06

My stomach turned so many times reading that, it felt like being on a rollercoaster.

That's not normal, OP. Mismatched sec drives is one thing, but how he speaks to you/his expectations of you are quite another.

I take it it’s an unhappy relationship in other areas?

catfunk · 22/01/2023 14:39

He sounds awful. He doesn't have a low sex drive - he's both avoiding you because sex it physically difficult for him and when he's in the mood it's all centred around him with no regard for your pleasure.
Is this what you want for the rest of your life ?

Nanny0gg · 22/01/2023 15:03

Purplenurple81 · 22/01/2023 10:26

Honestly? Because I like sex and have no chance of getting it from anywhere else, is why.
Mumsnet is full of helpful suggestions that just don’t translate into real life.

I'd much rather not have it than with someone like that!

Twocrabs20 · 22/01/2023 19:26

I agree with what @catfunk said:

He sounds awful. He doesn't have a low sex drive - he's both avoiding you because sex it physically difficult for him and when he's in the mood it's all centred around him with no regard for your pleasure.

Is this what you want for the rest of your life ?

EarthSight · 22/01/2023 19:33

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

He will only give me oral if I am completely shaved

Pornified expectations of women. OP, do you expect him to be totally waxed before giving him a blow job?

I'm sorry OP, but you are totally sexually incompatible. Not only do you have a large difference in your sex drive, but he's also overweight, sounds like an old man already, and you like different things to him in bed.

I'm amazed you got this far with him.

Doc13 · 15/02/2023 01:03

Honestly, why are you with him. He sounds as as if he has no respect for you. I’m sorry if that is very blunt. But why? Does he love you, you deserve to feel loved.

Ghostbuster2639 · 15/02/2023 01:16

Show us your tits is disgusting and juvenile. I’ve got the ick from reading that.

3kidswouldfinishanyoneoff · 15/02/2023 05:53

I found myself in a sexless relationship, tried to sort it out but couldn't so I called time.

For the last year and a half I'm seeing someone and we have the best sex I've ever had.

Life is too short op.

ChrisTrepidation · 15/02/2023 06:36

My first suggestion is to leave the absolute pig of a man you have lumbered yourself with. My second is to then raise your bar and never tolerate this shit again.

The bar is honestly in hell. Why are woman putting up with this shit.

ChrisTrepidation · 15/02/2023 06:46

And you could be getting sex from plenty of places if you left this man.

Sign yourself up to Tinder or Fabswingers and you'll have no shortage of offers if sex is what you're putting on the table!

ItchyBillco · 15/02/2023 06:57

He sounds absolutely repellant. Why are you subjecting yourself to this?

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