Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

Should I give in? (Sex-related question)

391 replies

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:10

Hi! I'm not a mom, so I'm not so sure if this is the place I can come to with my situation, but I figured I'd try because other forums I've given a shot have been disappointing or downright frustrating. (one word: manosphere) I hope I don't offend anyone by posting here.

Some background: current boyfriend and I have been together for about a year. Generally we have a solid relationship. We understand each other for the most part and I enjoy spending time with him. My attraction to him has had to grow; I showed an interest mostly because he is the kind of person I need right now, particularly after getting out of a ... rocky relationship. My ex was/is the complete opposite of current boyfriend, who is gentle, understanding, considerate, open to things I like and willing to try, too. While the physical aspect with current boyfriend has had to develop a bit, I was immediately head over heels for ex and the chemistry was sort of out of this world. In short, an overall very different vibe than the one I have with current boyfriend, which feels a lot more tame and safe in comparison.
I realized however that what I had with my ex was getting to me, it was unhealthy, and that I deserved more, better, from a potential partner than what I was receiving.

A couple of weeks ago current boyfriend and I got drunk together, it was a wonderful night. I made the crucial mistake, however, of getting so drunk I was no longer in control of what I was saying. I let it slip that I did certain sexual acts with my ex that I am not interested in doing again. There was no pressure or initiative from my ex there, it happened because I was curious about doing it with him. I am no longer curious about it. Ex and I never did it again.

This nugget of information has for some reason stuck to current boyfriend's brain, and, a day or two later: indeed, he asks me to try it with him, too. Says he'll be careful, will stop if it's too much, yada yada. And of course, the old, "You let him do it to you, why can't I?"

I said no. "Why?"

Because I don't care for it. I tried, didn't do anything for me, never did it again.

"But don't you think it's a bit unfair that you were willing to try, at least, with him, but won't with me?"

No.

Since then he has kind of been moping? Our sex life is generally not too wild, we usually do it maybe once or twice a week which is... a stark difference from my previous relationship... but it has completely died down. No sex. I know he gets off on his own, I have taken initiative, only to be cold shouldered. Besides sexually he has been distant emotionally, too. Did I hurt him or his ego so badly to deserve this? I can't imagine being angry in his place.

What do you think? I'd like to read some other perspectives from women, or perhaps people who have been through something similar with their partner?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Ireolu · 22/10/2025 08:57

Don't do it. Its yuk of him to not respect your boundaries.

neleh87 · 22/10/2025 08:58

I am so upset for you OP. I actually gasped when I read that he'd asked you to take the pain for him.
You absolutely should not do it just once because he will nag you to do it again.
Urgh.
My very first LTB.

Fedupwithnamechanging · 22/10/2025 08:59

The first PP has it as usual. Block and move on. Life is too short to spend it trying to mollify sexual bullies.

BlueSlate · 22/10/2025 09:00

@TipsyOrca

Reframe it to yourself.

Why not find strength in being single and not needing any man for a while while you work on yourself?

The problem with rushing into things and wanting to make wrong relationships work is that it causes you more harm in the long run. Each bad relationship just compounds the issues created in the one before.

Time will pass. One day you will middle aged (I'm guessing early 20s right now) with not just issues from one shitty ex but several and the complete decimation of your self esteem and self worth and all the problems that come with that.

No one will ever value you more than you value yourself. You set the bar on that.

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 09:00

YourFairCyanReader · 22/10/2025 08:53

The fact that you haven't had a strong attraction to him, or a lot of passion in your sex life, and that you were drunk when you said you'd tried it before... those are irrelevant to this situation.

Imagine you fancied the pants off him, had a really passionate sex life, and were sitting having coffee one morning.

  • What do you think about anal, would you do it?
  • Ah no, I've tried it once and hated it, wouldn't do it again.
  • Ok fair enough

Is the lack of attraction making you feel guilty and as if you owe him something?

Are you forcing yourself to have sex with him generally, if the attraction isn't strong? If so, why do you think you're putting yourself through this?

You can be alone - you don't need a relationship.

The sex is not good and when it happens I zone out. I let him do his thing. I think that answers your questions. I've told myself this is because it was always good with my ex, and I'm making a totally unfair comparison between two wholly different men, and I shouldn't; but he does, or did, represent everything I want in a partner - safety, being treated gently, with care - so I was OK with taking the sex as it was. I can do without.

OP posts:
Starlight7080 · 22/10/2025 09:00

I actually worry about this sort of thing with my daughters . I think the easy access to porn has a lot to answer for.
Keep saying no! If anything explain again that its not nice. Its hurts. It can cause longterm damage . And it is not for everyone.
We all new you meant anal and the reason that is is because it is something that a lot of men pressure women to try.
Stand your ground. You will feel much worse if you give in .
But realistically he is not the man for you. Being single and working on your self would be the best option.
You dont need a man to be happy .
Especially not one who trys to guilt you into painful sex acts you dont want todo.

MummaMummaMumma · 22/10/2025 09:01

He is not a nice man. You've spoken about how much it hurt you, you hated it, but he thinks you should do it to please him?
Absolutely no way. I'd dump him, definitely could not be attracted to him after he showed me how little he cared.

Janie143 · 22/10/2025 09:01

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:44

Honestly, I thought: maybe I should just go through it, it's usually quick anyways - and after that we can go back to normal? I would hate to lose this relationship, even though, yes, this has definitely shown me another side of him.

Why would you put yourself through this for a man who has clearly showed you he doesn't respect your boundaries? There is a true saying "when someone shows you they are believe them" He has showed you that he thinks he can control you by manipulation. He is not a nice man.

PerkyCyanPoet · 22/10/2025 09:02

End it. If you give in to him he’ll think whenever you say No in future you don’t really mean it. Men ignoring or refusing to listen to you saying NO is one of the biggest red flags there is.

kkloo · 22/10/2025 09:03

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:38

I have asked him why he wants to do it so badly when I tell him it hurt a lot for me. The answer being, you did it with your ex, can't you take the pain for a second for me, too? I think it's not even as much about the act itself, or intimacy, which was the reason why I tried it with the ex; I think it's a weird ego thing.

Edited

Except it wouldn't just be the pain, he'd be expecting to let him do something to your body that he coerced you into after you said you didn't want to. That's something entirely different. He's disgusting for not respecting your no.

Burntt · 22/10/2025 09:05

No means no. If you give in it not fully consensual. If he won’t drop it you should drop him

Whereismyfleeceblanket · 22/10/2025 09:06

His ego is battered.. He rates your relationship with your ex as more 'important' than your one with him because you let him do that to you.
You aren't obliged to offer up anything to appease him. Except the door. Give him the door.

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 09:06

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:44

Honestly, I thought: maybe I should just go through it, it's usually quick anyways - and after that we can go back to normal? I would hate to lose this relationship, even though, yes, this has definitely shown me another side of him.

Christ don’t be so desperate!
Dump this prick and work on your self esteem!

ButtonMushrooms · 22/10/2025 09:06

kkloo · 22/10/2025 09:03

Except it wouldn't just be the pain, he'd be expecting to let him do something to your body that he coerced you into after you said you didn't want to. That's something entirely different. He's disgusting for not respecting your no.

Exactly! Sex should be a consensual, happy, enjoyable thing. Even if it didn't hurt, "I don't want to" is the main reason here.

BunnyLake · 22/10/2025 09:06

Say to him, so underneath your nice guy persona you're actually a coercive sex pest? I can see we are not right for each other.

Thundertoast · 22/10/2025 09:07

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 09:00

The sex is not good and when it happens I zone out. I let him do his thing. I think that answers your questions. I've told myself this is because it was always good with my ex, and I'm making a totally unfair comparison between two wholly different men, and I shouldn't; but he does, or did, represent everything I want in a partner - safety, being treated gently, with care - so I was OK with taking the sex as it was. I can do without.

OP, I want you to read this back as if it was a friend saying this to you.
You should only be with someone you fancy.
You should only be with someone who respects your boundaries.
You should only be with someone if you want to be with them, not fill a gap in your life.
These are basics. You need to learn to love yourself before being with anyone else, and right now you are someone whose been hurt and is looking for comfort in the wrong places. This man is no good. You deserve more and you need time away from men to heal. Is that something you recognise you should probably do?
A partner shouldn't fill a gap in your life, they should make your cup run over because your life is already full and they add extra joy to it.

noidea69 · 22/10/2025 09:07

I dont think its about trying anal with him.

He can definitely pick up that you see him as the safe reliable guy, rather than someone you actually fancy, and that probably hurts him a lot.

Ellie1015 · 22/10/2025 09:09

Do not do it. Being bullied into a sex act you are not wanting to do is a huge red flag. The first step in him being abusive. Good people are not interested in sex acts their partner is not comfortable with. He might not be as abusive as your ex but this is first step in him showing he is a bad partner/abusive. You deserve better, end it with him.

whatisheupto · 22/10/2025 09:09

Urgh. Ewwwww. Absolutely not. Just no way. You know the answer here OP, this relationship is not good enough and it's going nowhere. End it now. It's not worth trying to salvage. You can do better.
Also, even if you did 'just bear the pain and do it once' (which is so, so awful I'm not sure how you'd come back from that), don't you think he'll want to do it again after that? Will it come up again a month later, a year later? Where does that leave you?
But you'd never recover from the fact he coerced you with emotional abuse into doing something he knows will hurt you and you don't want to do.... you think your relationship can survive that??!!
I'm so glad you came on here so you could get some sensie perspective and advice. Now do the right thing!

Namechangerage · 22/10/2025 09:09

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:44

Honestly, I thought: maybe I should just go through it, it's usually quick anyways - and after that we can go back to normal? I would hate to lose this relationship, even though, yes, this has definitely shown me another side of him.

No no no and no!! I’d even go as far as to end the relationship because now his true colours are coming out… feminist my arse, he probably just plays a role to lure women in. Just like Zev in ‘Too Much’ - if you haven’t seen that btw, give it a watch!

MassiveWordSalad · 22/10/2025 09:10

It’s taken a year, but he’s finally showing you who he really is, and he is not a nice, kind, gentle guy. Please get out of this relationship, and don’t start another one until you’ve spent some time working on yourself 💐

ShesTheAlbatross · 22/10/2025 09:10

Just from the title of the thread I’d say no. You should never “give in” to something sex related.

Flakey99 · 22/10/2025 09:10

@TipsyOrca

My attraction to him has had to grow; I showed an interest mostly because he is the kind of person I need right now, particularly after getting out of a ... rocky relationship.

Woah! This is a major Red Flag. 🚩

You need some time on your own to learn about yourself and allow yourself to properly heal from your previous relationship(s). Figure out why it became abusive, rather than jumping into the arms of the first man who shows any interest in you.

The fact that your considering doing something you don’t want to do, to keep this new boyfriend sweet is unbelievably sad and suggests your self esteem is at rock bottom.

If you’re not careful, you’ll end up someone like Katie Price hopping from one unsuitable man to the next unsuitable man and mentally unstable by your middle age.

Rather than continuing this relationship, have you thought about getting some counselling to help you learn to value yourself more and work out why you keep picking ‘wrong ‘uns’?

UpMyself · 22/10/2025 09:11

@TipsyOrca , dump him and work on your self-esteem before dating again.

Mulledjuice · 22/10/2025 09:11

TipsyOrca · 22/10/2025 08:44

Honestly, I thought: maybe I should just go through it, it's usually quick anyways - and after that we can go back to normal? I would hate to lose this relationship, even though, yes, this has definitely shown me another side of him.

You think if you did this, if you put up with the pain for him to get this badge, that would be it? You dont think he would want to do it again and again? You dont think you would feel hurt and used and resentful of him?

"you did it with your ex, can't you take the pain for a second for me, too?" is this the kind of guy you think you deserve?

Swipe left for the next trending thread