Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

My husband won't initiate intimacy anymore

12 replies

MaryPoppins89 · 21/07/2024 09:32

Bit of background: We had a pretty good sex life for the first 5 years of our relationship, but my husband has always had a slightly higher drive then me. I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 5 years, and my libido took a major hit during that time. I knew that my husband was frustrated with our significantly reduced sex life, but he was also very understanding and patient. He backed off trying to initiate, and I tried to get myself in the mood as often as possible (which admittedly was not super often). We both knew that the situation was not ideal, but we did our best to address the other's needs.

Cut to the present, and I have finally been done breastfeeding our youngest for a few months. I have finally started feeling normal and getting my libido back. Over the course of the last two/three months we have gone from once every week or two to closer to three to four times a week (and I would be open to more). The problem is that my husband is still not initiating at all. He still has made it known that he would love to be having more sex, but he very rarely does anything about it or does something at times that obviously are not happening (like when our infant, toddler, and preschooler are home and awake). We took an adult only vacation, and I was still the only one to initiate the whole trip. I understand that the years of dead (or at least on life support) bedroom have probably made it difficult for him to feel confident initiating, but I am not sure how much longer I can bear the sole responsibility of initiating sex. I have told him several times that my libido is coming back, and I feel my actions have shown that I am open to sex significantly more often then before. I had a talk with him specifically about his lack of initiation, but it has gone nowhere.

It takes a good deal of effort to switch into sexy mode after having wrangled three very active boys under 5 and having them fight over who gets to sit next to (or jump on) mommy through out the day. I was so excited to feel like my libido was returning, but it is starting to feel like a chore even when I really want sex when I am the only one initiating which is not helping me want to have more sex with him.

How do I make my husband feel comfortable initiating again? I am ready and willing to put in the work to fix our sex life, but how long is it expected for me to put in the majority of the effort to improve the situation before he trusts that he won't be turned down consistently?

OP posts:
MealDealDreamz · 21/07/2024 09:44

I'm sorry you're going through this situation. I think you just need to say to your husband that you would welcome him initiating and you'd like to think he no longer feels like you'll reject him. Perhaps he's feeling like it's on your terms now that your libido is coming back and it wasn't possible for it to be on his terms before. Maybe he's feeling a bit of resentment about that? You need to have a frank talk about it and emphasise that it's not just the sex that you've woken up to again but the idea of intimacy with HIM. Make him feel special? Like you really want him again not just the sex?

Sunshineafterthehail · 21/07/2024 09:48

Can you take turns planning a cosy evening? That way each is responsible for the meal /snacks and making the move? Worked for me in the past. I know a couple who are 80 and 90 and they still get dressed up for their evening meal every night!!

HaveNoIdeaForAName · 21/07/2024 09:50

Once a week is hardly a dead bedroom.

LoveLifeBeHappy · 21/07/2024 17:53

HaveNoIdeaForAName · 21/07/2024 09:50

Once a week is hardly a dead bedroom.

No, but her issue is that her husband has stopped initiating anything. She always has to take the lead. Wouldn't it upset you if it were always one-sided?

She is still getting the sex so it's not all bad.

Opentooffers · 21/07/2024 18:11

It depends what you mean by initiate. If one of you says ' how about some' or whatever phrase to indicate its on the cards, where is the effort in that? I don't quite get why its such a big deal to be the one to 'initiate'. However, if what you mean by initiate is engage in foreplay, then if you've already said its on and he just lays back and expects you to get him going every time without reciprocation, I would not say that is an initiation issue, more a lazy git one.
I think more of an explanation of initiation is required here, as I wouldn't see an issue with being the one to say first, in fact it means you get it whenever you want that way. But we all like to be desired, so if it means lack of effort or enthusiasm despite having the green light , that's a problem. Also, if he does sometimes initiate, but only when he knows it's inconvenient, then he doesn't really mean it. Perhaps his libido has reduced and 3 to 4 times a week is more than enough for him, as it would be for the average person tbf after DC's and just being together some years.

Beth216 · 21/07/2024 18:17

How difficult is it to initiate? It's only been a matter of weeks since there's been a big shift. Keep initiating yourself and let him get back to it in his own time. If it's feeling like a chore again just because you have to say 'do you fancy a bit?' then maybe it would be better to dial it back a bit again anyway.

Pigeonqueen · 21/07/2024 18:24

Are you sure he actually wants as much sex as you? Is it possible his sex drive has dipped and now he’s actually comfortable with the way things were? 3/4 a week is a lot of sex for those in a long term relationship/ marriage with small kids. Maybe that’s more than enough for him now.

LoveLifeBeHappy · 05/11/2024 15:39

Pigeonqueen · 21/07/2024 18:24

Are you sure he actually wants as much sex as you? Is it possible his sex drive has dipped and now he’s actually comfortable with the way things were? 3/4 a week is a lot of sex for those in a long term relationship/ marriage with small kids. Maybe that’s more than enough for him now.

This.

He stopped initiating after facing some rejection, and over time, he's simply gotten used to it. 5 years is a long time.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 05/11/2024 16:00

I've almost always been the one to initiate in our relationship, DP's ADHD brain is always a mile a minute thinking about 3 billion different things, and sex isn't one of those things, so it takes a fair bit of effort to get her brain to slow down enough to get in the mood.

There's been a few periods in our life where sex has been off the table - when she's been ill, one of us is grieving, after DD was born etc. so I've backed off completely, and DP has let me know when she's feeling up for it again.

Every time though, it's felt like initiating sex is a skill that atrophies. It's felt awkward to start doing it again, like I don't know what I'm doing, that I'm making a twat of myself. I think it takes a while for my brain to start believing that this person actually does want sex with me, she's not just saying yes to make me happy.

OP, it may be that your husband is just still uncomfortable about pressuring you into something he's not 100% sure you want yet, and that he's letting you set the frequency. He's being an eejit by not listening to what your saying, but sometimes it takes a few goes to make someone believe you're telling the truth when they've convinced themselves of something different.

Alternatively, maybe he's just knackered, and is perfectly happy with amount of sex he's getting at the moment, and you're initiating before he gets the chance to get in the mood.

OrlandointheWilderness · 05/11/2024 16:13

It can feel really awkward after a long period of rejection. Be explicit that you welcome it and give him time. He's had a long time of feeling unwanted, let him enjoy the feeling that you want to have sex with him!

Kansas123 · 06/11/2024 18:34

Thought I would offer some advice from a male perspective.i think he stopped initiating sex as respect for you, and for you to show him when you want sex, and ensuring there is no pressure, also because of past rejection it becomes hard to initiate so even though I bet he wants to he won't incase of potential rejection. I think you could speak to him about it, it still may take time, but when he does just comments like I am glad you done that will go a long way. I am sure it will build from there.

Joey699 · 06/11/2024 18:49

OrlandointheWilderness · 05/11/2024 16:13

It can feel really awkward after a long period of rejection. Be explicit that you welcome it and give him time. He's had a long time of feeling unwanted, let him enjoy the feeling that you want to have sex with him!

100% this ^^ , when you have been on the receiving end of a lot of rejection is very difficult to overcome that and just switch on again

New posts on this thread. Refresh page