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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

Boyfriend moody when he doesn’t get sex

141 replies

BourbonBiscuit555 · 04/02/2024 11:00

Boyfriend and I have been together 2 years, we’re an hour apart so we generally see each other every weekend. Since fairly early on into the relationship we’ve had issues with sex. My partner would be very happy to have sex multiple times a day, every day, if he could. For me this is too much, I’m content with a few times a week, sometimes more sometimes less.

The issue I have is that on the days I’m not in the mood for sex, my boyfriend will become very grumpy - gives me the silent treatment, turns away from me in bed and starts claiming that the relationship is falling apart etc. he’ll generally be like this until I cave or am next in the mood, then everything is suddenly fine. I’ve tried to tell him numerous times that sometimes I’m just too tired, I work a stressful job and am a lone parent to my daughter as well as studying, it’s nothing personal towards him. He however can’t get his head around this, he says he can’t understand how I wouldn’t want to rip his clothes off after not seeing him all week, tells me that me rejecting him is super damaging to his mental health etc etc. He likes to tell me that he’s never had this with anyone before and essentially can’t understand how I can simply not want to have sex with him.

I’m at a lose end with it because no matter how much I tell him I’m just simply not in the mood some days, he will listen and claims he understands, but when it next happens he then goes into these moods again. The more I feel pressured into it, the more it turns me off and it becomes a bit of a vicious cycle.

I don’t think we’ve ever gone without sex for more than a week. On the days I don’t want sex, I tell him I’m happy to pleasure him in other ways but he then tells me he doesn’t want that as he can do it himself - he only wants sex. I can’t bear the moods, it’s making me dread getting into bed with him.

AIBU here? Am I being out of order for not wanting to rip his clothes off after not seeing him for a week?

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 04/02/2024 12:55

Dump him. He's a sulky sex pest

Even if he had any nice features he (and it) aren't worth it)

SwordToFlamethrower · 04/02/2024 13:04

Rapist

CacenCaws · 04/02/2024 13:16

Dump him

BMW6 · 04/02/2024 13:19

Ugh. I can't think of anything that would put me off sex more than a whining pathetic twat like this!

Yuck Yuck Yuck

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 04/02/2024 13:24

I cannot believe that he really seriously thinks that not having sex being 'super damaging for his mental health' would work! What would he do if he didn't have a convenient receptacle girlfriend? Have a breakdown?

He needs to grow up and you need a better partner.

BourbonBiscuit555 · 04/02/2024 13:24

See I do understand him being upset if/when I’m not in the mood after not seeing him all week, but I also can’t physically force myself if I’m not in the mood or physically too tired. The issue is he can’t see how I can turn it down as when he’s tired, he still likes to have sex. He says he’s not horny all week and when he sees me, he’s super horny and can’t keep his hands off etc. He just can’t understand how I’m not the same and believes it must be a problem with me because if I fancied him I would surely want to have sex with him all the time. To me, there’s other ways of showing this.

He claims it would be ok if we lived together because he wouldn’t expect it everyday, and apparently he gets like it because we only see each other weekends. But, when we’ve been away together for a week and a couple days I haven’t been in the mood, it all starts up again.

OP posts:
SamW98 · 04/02/2024 13:26

So he’s following the abusers script of it being your fault and something wrong with you.

Honestly the red flags are clear here - stop ignoring them

YouBoggleMyMind · 04/02/2024 13:31

Leave him. He's a nasty sex pest and he will continue to behave this way.

MsGrumpytrousers · 04/02/2024 13:32

SamW98 · 04/02/2024 13:26

So he’s following the abusers script of it being your fault and something wrong with you.

Honestly the red flags are clear here - stop ignoring them

Yes.

Please split up with him, OP, before he rapes you. Everything he is saying is moving him towards a place where he will feel entitled to do this.

olderbutwiser · 04/02/2024 13:34

JUST DUMP AND RUN NOW

What more do you need to hear?

You came here to ask us what we think. We all completely understand this scenario, many of us have lived it.

I lived it for 18 years and it’s taken me 10 years to get over it.

It doesn’t matter “why” he feels this way; it doesn’t matter that he’s horny because he thinks you are fantastic. What matters is that if he doesn’t get sex he punishes you. It matters that he mostly feels your role in his life is to satisfy him sexually.

This will not change. Do you want to be feeling like a sex doll for another 16 years?

LeavesOnTrees · 04/02/2024 13:37

No, I couldn't live like this. What's the point of the relationship if you're constantly having to deal with his pestering?

There is nothing wrong with you. You both have different sex drives, which happens. He has no right to pressure you like this. I think long term you'd both be better off with someone else.

80s · 04/02/2024 13:37

He just can’t understand how I’m not the same and believes it must be a problem with me
Find a partner who has the minimal level of intelligence to understand that not everyone is exactly like him, or the minimal level of abuse not to pretend he doesn't understand. Find a partner who does not attack your character/nature when you do not do exactly what he wants.

beAsensible1 · 04/02/2024 13:38

His behaviour is extremely coercive and abusive.

what would you say to a daughter who had a boyfriend who threw a strop and turned away from her every time she wasn’t in the mood.

what if you’re ill or have a child how will he treat you?

yuck. Get away from him

ZekeZeke · 04/02/2024 13:39

Don't listen to that tripe it's because you are so gorgeous/sexy..he can't keep his hands off you bollix to that. A loving partner doesn't behave this way. What if you are ill? Pregnant (God forbid) have surgery etc is he going to be there for you like a normal loving partner would be?
OP are you paying any attention to what EVERY poster is saying to you?

StopStartStop · 04/02/2024 13:40

The issue is he can’t see how I can turn it down as when he’s tired, he still likes to have sex.

No, that's not the issue. The issue is that he thinks you are a sex-toy he should be able to use whenever he wants. He does not think of you as a human being with feelings, desires, preferences. You're his 'thing', his object.

You are in an abusive relationship. Trying to get him to understand your perspective is a waste of time. To him, your perspective is irrelevant.

Please break up with him right now. Stay safely in your own home and don't let him in.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 04/02/2024 13:40

This is not a partnership at all. He's treating you like a sex doll and has no regard for your feelings.
You need to end this.

StopStartStop · 04/02/2024 13:44

See I do understand him being upset if/when I’m not in the mood after not seeing him all week,
This bothers me, too. There are thousands of people I 'don't see all week' and if I see them at the weekend I don't want to shag them! Even in relationships, having spent time apart is likely to make me feel distant and not wanting immediate intimacy (hate that word. I don't just mean a shag, I mean any close stuff). Men pay prostitutes for immediate sex, unwanted by the woman - and that's an abuse, too.

PermanentTemporary · 04/02/2024 13:46

He understands it. He just can't accept that something you've told him about yourself is real or valid if it's different from him.

This sounds very hard work. I'm very sympathetic to people struggling with truly sexless relationships but that isn't the situation by a very long chalk.

teatimeplease · 04/02/2024 13:49

Im shrivelling up just reading the first post.

I

MightyGoldBear · 04/02/2024 13:55

Op this is abuse.
This would fall under the umbrella of sex addiction. He would need to undergo a recovery for that and an integrity abuse recovery.

That's if he sees the needs for it/ wants to. You can not change him this is a him issue. He would be like this with any partner. It would only escalate further with a partner who willingly had sex everytime he wanted.

His needs trump yours everytime. That's abuse. Untill he understands and has undergone lots of therapy and support he shouldn't even have access to you.

Most men do not choose recovery till they are at rock bottom about to lose everything. Even then some don't. Don't waste your life trying to convince someone to be healthy repectful not abusive etc.

Check out omar minwhalla secret sexual basement and integrity abuse.
Reddit love after porn forum
Helping couples heal podcast
Pbse podcast
Betrayal trauma therapy

He doesn't have to check all the boxes of sex addiction to warrant the need for the recovery. The victim mentality and entitlement to sex. The seeing you as purely a sexual object. The abusive coercive control. That's enough boxes ticked.

You deserve more than this.

Gloriosaford · 04/02/2024 14:00

as everyone else said this is an abusive relationship.
I urge you to in no circumstances agree to live with this man, if you live with him that will make it much easier for him to dominate and control you, he will also use your child to dominate and control you.
You will end up feeling as if you have to be grateful that he is nice to your child.

Zipidydodah · 04/02/2024 14:02

For god sake it not an addiction to want sex with your partner regularly. But you don’t want to and that’s all that counts. You don’t have to explain or negotiate for a compromise- there isn’t one. You do not want to have sex with him even after the week apart. He does and the behaves appallingly when you don’t. Leave and find someone who has a lower sex drive and is happy with your preferred once a week if you aren’t tired/stress or whatever it is that makes you not want sex. Find someone who is the same not someone who wants regular & frequent sex. It really is that simple. I would not tolerate a partner who felt like you do …. that doesn’t make me evil or addicted or anything else (although I would not behave as he does, I’d gave just called it a day) it just means I want me expect my partner TO WANT regular and frequent sex with me. You do not stop moaning/blaming/negiotating and leave.

Dotchange · 04/02/2024 14:04

See I do understand him being upset if/when I’m not in the mood after not seeing him all week

Why? He’s treating you like a receptacle who exists for his needs. That isn’t respect and it isn’t love

disappearingfish · 04/02/2024 14:05

He's absolutely horrible! You will be much, much happier away from this man.

Orio2023 · 04/02/2024 14:09

Why do you give a shit what he claims, thinks or feels? He should be old news. Get rid before he escalates into actually raping you. If he doesn’t grope you while you’re asleep he soon will. He’s not fit to be anyone’s partner.

Also disgusted with those saying mismatched sex drives.