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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

Partner not interested in sex

9 replies

DjangoEverythingx2 · 22/08/2024 17:11

Name changed as could be outing, also apologies I feel like this is a fairly common one!

I have been with my partner for over 3 years and it's honestly a brilliant relationship. We love each other dearly, we really understand each other, have common interests, and have supported each other through some quite difficult times. We are in our mid-30s.

The only issue is that he is not interested in sex at all. The first few times we met up it went as you would expect, but suddenly it fell off a fairly dramatic cliff. Since the first month or so of our relationship I can count on one hand, and list, all the times we've had sex. This is difficult for me because I have a fairly average sex drive, and also I really appreciate the intimacy of touch.

My partner is neurodivergent (as am I), and is also on quite a lot of medication, some of which is almost certainly the reason for his low libido, and also has longstanding issues with fatigue. He says that whilst he's never had a high libido, and is definitely not asexual, it was never as dead before he started taking this medication. It's as though he doesn't even think about it all (in fact, I know he rarely does!). We cuddle and kiss on a daily basis, but it pretty much never turns into anything more. In the earlier days I would attempt to get things going, but it would always become very clear that he didn't want me to be doing that, so obviously I would stop. And now I very rarely try at all, because I don't want to be doing something he isn't feeling. Instead I verbally float the idea every couple of months, and sometimes it turns into something in the next few days, but most of the time it doesn't. When we have had sex it is always entirely driven by his libido, and I always feel I have to sort of take the opportunity because I don't know when it will come up again (however if I said I wasn't feeling like it he would absolutely abandon the idea). I have tried things like "shall we just be intimate without having sex" aka being naked etc, but if he's not feeling it then it just feels like he's desperate to go and do something else.

I love him very, very, very much, and I can see my whole life with him, but I just miss sex awfully. He isn't open to any sort of open arrangement, and tbh it's not really what I would want either. I want to have sex with him. When we talk about it he expresses a wish to sort it out, and says he "misses being horny", but he's quite awkward so a lot of the things he could do asides from changing medication don't appeal to him. He has also expressed that things like me wearing nice underwear etc are not appealing to him. At the moment I can manage, and being with him is worth more than sex, but I can't guarantee I will always feel that way. I'm just not really sure what to do. Advice, please?

OP posts:
QueenBakingBee · 22/08/2024 17:18

Suggest he does to the GP for a medication review and he talks about the changes - there must be a way to review this. You are both too young to throw away the chance of a decent sex life. If he doesn't want to change the amount of sex you are having (and addressing it together), then it's up to you - carry on accepting this is what your relationship includes, or move on to look for someone else who is more in tune.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/08/2024 17:19

Op, loving someone is not enough to carry a romantic relationship when a massive, irreplaceable piece of it is missing. Your mid-30's is a terrible time to settle for a relationship that doesn't bring you joy in every aspect, and the way you feel now, unsatisfied and rejected, is soon going to become overwhelming. I'm surprised it hasn't already, honestly. I think your affection for him has allowed you to push your own wants and needs into a very dark corner to be ignored, and that was never going to last.

You need to very seriously reevaluate this relationship and think about what you want from life and relationships.

Biggaybear · 22/08/2024 17:22

My advice would be to leave.

You could stay friends but not lovers. Sex differentiates friends from lovers. What you have currently is a friendship.

The only thing I would suggest if you want to stay with him is for him to see his GP & look at his medication. But he will want to do this. If he isn't bothered then he isnt bothered about you or your relationship.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/08/2024 17:27

I've re-read your op, and it doesn't appear that he's at all concerned with your needs, does it? He seems quite selfish, honestly. You have expressed to him many times how you feel and his response is to do nothing. You have your answer, op, and I don't think this relationship is as great as you think it is. I think your bar is set quite low.

Bigconk · 22/08/2024 17:28

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DjangoEverythingx2 · 22/08/2024 17:50

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No, we have just talked about polyamory more generally as we know a fair few polyamorous people. I am definitely monogamous.

OP posts:
Clarkysingleprimgoe · 12/01/2025 03:25

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Guest100 · 12/01/2025 03:29

I agree with changing the relationship to being good friends. If he wants more then he needs to look at changing his medication.

InkHeart2024 · 12/01/2025 03:52

I can't see how this situation can change when it's been exactly the same since the very beginning. One month in!! The sex tailed off, yet you stayed for 3 years. That's hope over experience and at some point you have to accept that is the choice you made. This man isn't going to be a sexual person. He might say he 'misses being horny' but he doesn't really, as if he did he would have a medication review, get his testosterone levels checked etc but he's not bothered. It's this or separate.

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