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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

A sex one...

167 replies

AvocadoOodie · 02/05/2024 07:59

My partner and I have been together for 3 years and recently got engaged.

We used to have sex 3 or 4 times a week. Dropped to once a week and, over recent months, it's dropped to once a fortnight.

I've read similar posts on here that say it's nothing to do with attraction but how can you be sure?

I don't feel he finds me attractive. I've tried talking to him about it and he says he does but those are words that are not backed up by actions. He's affectionate but in those two weeks, I get used to there not being any sex in the relationship and it feels awkward when it happens and i feel unattractive and reluctant.

Without the interest from him, I lose interest in it myself. I just cant go from being someone who doesn't have sex to someone who then does have sex once a fortnight. I feel like he is just having sex with me to scratch an itch or because he's aware it's been a fortnight and so feels obliged to rather than wanting to. I just don't feel attractive or like a sexual being at all anymore if I'm honest.

I dont understand how it can go from 3 or 4 times aweek, to once a week to once a fortnight without there being a reason for it (eg he doesn't find me attractive but feels horny once a fortnight or he's meeting his sexual needs in other ways during the rest of the time and he's having 'maintenance sex' with me - neither of which makes me feel particularly in the mood!)

If he's getting his sexual needs met elsewhere the majority of the time, why not just do that all the time? If he doesn't find me attractive, why do it with me at all?

I'd rather not have sex at all than only have it once a fortnight tbh.

Any words of wisdom?

OP posts:
Watchkeys · 03/05/2024 20:10

Imagine if this was a man writing this about his menopausal girlfriend

Why? @2pence

2pence · 03/05/2024 20:12

I'm guessing the advice would be different @Watchkeys

EBearhug · 03/05/2024 20:12

2pence · 03/05/2024 19:33

Imagine if this was a man writing this about his menopausal girlfriend?

Are you quite a bit younger than him?

If she were menopausal and not talking about it, that would be an issue.

Sex drives change over time, which will be a part of long relationships- but not talking about it is an issue. ED can be a symptom of cardiac issues, as well as emotional problems or external stress. That's all fine - life happens. These things may be resolvable, treatable - but that means seeking assistance, talking about it. Same for women and men. Lots of women's libidos disappear with menopause, and some will choose not to use HRT - but it is still unreasonable just to shut off from a partner without discussion.

Watchkeys · 03/05/2024 20:16

2pence · 03/05/2024 20:12

I'm guessing the advice would be different @Watchkeys

Yes, I understand that. I was asking in what way? You're objecting to something but without saying what it is. I read the thread and can't see anything that wouldn't be appropriate/have a sex-appropriate equivalent, so I wondered what it was you'd seen that I hadn't.

2pence · 03/05/2024 20:18

Once a fortnight is really not that uncommon for a man in his 50s though. Also likely to decrease as he gets into 60s and onwards.

No amount of discussion changes that?

SpiritOfEcstasy · 03/05/2024 20:23

I find the idea of a sex count/timetable a real turn off in general! We have teen DCs and rarely get time to ourselves where we can let rip, relax and make some noise. But the days/weeks that pass aren’t counted or that important to us … we make good use of them - I know my DH loves me because he tells and shows me all the time, he picks up Vogue for me, he brings me tea in bed, he’s tactile, affectionate and sexy in ways that have little to do with erections! It’s called a ‘sex life’ for a reason … I couldn’t just turn it on in bed. It needs to be in the air for me.

EBearhug · 03/05/2024 20:25

2pence · 03/05/2024 20:18

Once a fortnight is really not that uncommon for a man in his 50s though. Also likely to decrease as he gets into 60s and onwards.

No amount of discussion changes that?

It doesn't change it, but talking about it might make it easier to understand and accept, especially if the alternative is worrying about affairs or that you've turned into an unattractive person. You can have intimacy without sex.

Secondstart1001 · 03/05/2024 20:43

Some posters think it is “the norm” is that as time goes on the passion dies down. I don’t agree with this .. the best relationships are the ones where as you get to know them the passion just increases. I am def more into my DP now ( 4 years in) than I was when we first got together. This is because our emotional connection is linked to our sexual one more and more, as we’ve spent good and bad times together and really bonded. A mismatch causes issues for the person than needs more sex, the need to feel desired and loved and if you flip it to the one that wants less sex they may feel pressure or inadequate. It is a tough one but communication is the key.

EBearhug · 03/05/2024 21:25

It may not be the norm, but it's definitely not unusual as people get older.

Watchkeys · 03/05/2024 23:24

Secondstart1001 · 03/05/2024 20:43

Some posters think it is “the norm” is that as time goes on the passion dies down. I don’t agree with this .. the best relationships are the ones where as you get to know them the passion just increases. I am def more into my DP now ( 4 years in) than I was when we first got together. This is because our emotional connection is linked to our sexual one more and more, as we’ve spent good and bad times together and really bonded. A mismatch causes issues for the person than needs more sex, the need to feel desired and loved and if you flip it to the one that wants less sex they may feel pressure or inadequate. It is a tough one but communication is the key.

I don't think anybody is the right person to describe to others what 'the best' sort of relationship is. Unless you'd be happy with me declaring to you what 'the best' food is?

'The best' of anything is what fits your preference, and everyone's preferences are different.

Secondstart1001 · 03/05/2024 23:43

Watchkeys · 03/05/2024 23:24

I don't think anybody is the right person to describe to others what 'the best' sort of relationship is. Unless you'd be happy with me declaring to you what 'the best' food is?

'The best' of anything is what fits your preference, and everyone's preferences are different.

Yes of course, this is only my opinion and not fact.
It’s my experience and I am sharing it as it has not always been like this with ExH.
If sausage was everyone’s favourite food life would not be as interesting!

AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 06:18

I came up to bed at 10.30 last night. Just as he put a documentary on. I've no idea if he left it on or what he did but he came up about 2 hours later when i was alseep.

I'm often asleep when he comes up.

If we come up to bed at the same time, he reads until I am asleep.

He usually cuddles up to me before falling asleep. I wouldn't really want it to be sexual just as I'm falling asleep on a week night. But it feels like it feels safe to him to do it then.

Even if we've been flirty or affectionate in the evening, we go up to bed and he gets his book out or scrolls through fb until I am asleep

It obviously wasn't always like that. But now it is.

He's definitely 'avoiding' me. And I just feel so unattractive now that I'm happy for him to do so.

If he compliments me or says anything nice or affectionate, it just feels hollow and empty now because this is the reality. But, tbh, I'm not sure he does say things that often anymore. I'm not sure.

Sad thing is, I probably wouldn't actually want sex any more often in reality. Or at least sex isn't really the issue.

The fact I feel he finds me unattractive is creating a disconnect.

When I have brought it up to try and talk about it, he just fobs me off. There's no reason or explanation.

OP posts:
HollyKnight · 04/05/2024 06:35

Are you sure he's not thinking that it is you who has gone off sex? And all this is his way of not putting you under pressure.

You really need to sit him down and talk about this properly. People here can't answer for him. If you talk about it but nothing changes, then you'll know this is what your relationship is now and you can decide if that's good enough for you.

Oleo24 · 04/05/2024 06:45

Once a fortnight seems fine to me but we’re all different. I don’t think it means there’s anything wrong or he doesn’t find you attractive. You’re just not in the honeymoon phase of the relationship any more.

Neveralonewithaclone · 04/05/2024 06:59

It's the guesswork that's the problem. If you're feeling that there's a problem and can't have an honest and kind discussion then that's really not good.

AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 07:15

It's hard to explain or to understand myself really. I suppose I'm posting to try and work through what I'm thinking/feeling rather than becaise anyone can answer for him.

I wouldn't necessarily think once a fortnight was too bad either.

The longest relationship I had was almost completely sexless. I mean, years would go between us having sex rather than weeks or months. The last time we had sex, my exh said he didn't want to do it again because it made him feel dirty. At the time, I understood this to mean because he felt disgusted by me but I've since realised that what he meant was it made him feel like shit having sex with someone he suspected didn't really want to even though it was completely consensual and I had initiated it.

And that's how I feel now.

I'd rather sex was taken completely off the table, because the rest of the relationship would be great without that particular elephant in the room otherwise.

Are you sure he's not thinking that it is you who has gone off sex? And all this is his way of not putting you under pressure.

This is where it gets complicated.

He probably does think this. Because that's the common narrative isn't it? Women go off sex. Especially when they're entering the menopause - which I am.

The problem is that I have gone off it now but only in response to his lack of interest.

He reduced the sex and it happened quite quickly. We had sex 3 times in one week as we had been doing and then he started reading in bed. One night, he was scrolling through fb and then played a game on his phone. I cuddled up to him as normal and he completely ignored me.

And then he'd come up to bed after me and wait for me to be asleep. That lasted for about 3 weeks. I tried initiating once or twice but he just ignored it. And the duvet issue started.

After that, sex was once a week for several months and then I initiated it one weekend and he rejected me. Then it went to fortnightly. Just like that.

If it had been gradual and the one or two days in between had become 3 or 4 had become 5 or 6, it would have made more sense.

The sad thing is that we had sex the weekend before last and he didn't finish. Two weeks before that I was on my period. I'm due on again this weekend and can feel the physical symptoms. So it's likely to happen today. That means we'll have had sex once this month, and he didn't even finish.

I've completely lost my confidence. I don't want to do anything other than a bit of foreplay then sex because I feel so shit about myself now. It's perfunctory rather than fun and leaves me feeling empty and disconnected.

I think it's become a vicious circle. He no doubt finds it unsatisfying because of this because I can't help how I feel.

I have broached it with him but he hasn't given a reason or explanation. He just says that he loves me and insists he does find me attractive but that's all.

OP posts:
CarryOnCharon · 04/05/2024 07:19

Is he seeing someone else, do you think? My XH went like this when he was

AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 07:23

Neveralonewithaclone · 04/05/2024 06:59

It's the guesswork that's the problem. If you're feeling that there's a problem and can't have an honest and kind discussion then that's really not good.

I have tried but I get no where.

He randomly said a few weeks ago that sex isn't the be all and end all but it is important to a relationship.

I know that!

I'm not the one who took it off the table!

He's also said that if there was anything I wanted to do/try then I should let him know. Which is nice and everything but it's very one sided because I've said similar to him and he's given me nothing and, when i did say something, he didnt respond at all. Didnt say anything, didnt try anything. So I just felt stupid.

It's just so awkward.

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 04/05/2024 07:27

I wonder if you have had therapy?

The issue of living inside your head and deciding what other people are thinking because your partner won't communicate with you/because you're not communicating as a couple sounds VERY familiar.

I'm never going to be a gold standard communicator but these days I will be a lot more up front about talking to my partner. And, not coincidentally, I have a partner now who will talk to me.

Neveralonewithaclone · 04/05/2024 07:27

I heard a saying about sex in relationships.

If there are no problems with sex it's 10% of the relationship. If there are problems then it's 90%.

I have found this to be accurate.

AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 07:39

CarryOnCharon · 04/05/2024 07:19

Is he seeing someone else, do you think? My XH went like this when he was

Honestly? I don't.

It's always possible of course. I'm not so naive as to say never.

He works in an all male environment. He goes out one evening a week with his friends but I know where they go and what they do and there is no one other than them there. It's a unit on an industrial estate type place. I've been thera few times. There's no one and nothing for miles!

He doesn't go out without me really.

But then, I can see how, if he wanted to, he'd have the opportunity on the way home from work or on the one occasion he did overtime at the weekend... (and it did cross my mind at the time).

So, he wouldn't really have the opportunity for a full blown relationship but he could certainly fit in hook ups or similar.

I suspect his needs are being met virtually rather than irl.

By everyone's account, he's always been faithful so, if he isn't being faithful to me, he's either had everyone fooled his whole life or he really just isn't interested in me sexually.

I couldn't fault him or the way he treats me or behaves generally in any other way.

OP posts:
CarryOnCharon · 04/05/2024 07:48

Are you interested in him sexually?

Would you be prepared to be in a sexless relationship forever?

AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 07:50

PermanentTemporary · 04/05/2024 07:27

I wonder if you have had therapy?

The issue of living inside your head and deciding what other people are thinking because your partner won't communicate with you/because you're not communicating as a couple sounds VERY familiar.

I'm never going to be a gold standard communicator but these days I will be a lot more up front about talking to my partner. And, not coincidentally, I have a partner now who will talk to me.

I don't find it particularly easy talking.

I used to be very open until I dated someone who was very closed off and it just became very uncomfortable.

It's felt a bit strange being more open again and I will admit it took me a bit of getting used to again.

It's felt quite awkward to bring things up with him but I do make an effort to do it. He will usually be quite 'open' in return but doesn't really bring things up himself.

But I'm not always confident that his openness is always honest. Not in that he's deliberately lying but more like he's trying to he sensitive to my feelings or just feels uncomfortable.

OP posts:
AvocadoOodie · 04/05/2024 07:56

CarryOnCharon · 04/05/2024 07:48

Are you interested in him sexually?

Would you be prepared to be in a sexless relationship forever?

Yes.

Probably yes on both counts tbh though.

What I'm not happy with is the thought of being in an intermittently sexual relationship like one where it feels like it happens out of duty or scratching an itch or because we probably should or because its been x number of weeks.

But I'm no longer interested in myself sexually. If that makes sense.

I don't see myself as sexually attractive or desirable and I don't feel it anymore. I don't make an effort to look nice anymore because it just makes me feel sad.

I'm aware that I've become unattractive which probably doesn't help.

OP posts:
Neveralonewithaclone · 04/05/2024 07:58

Are you enjoying being in a relationship with him?

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