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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

Should I dump this man over sex or keep seeing him

298 replies

Mynotebookisfull · 02/03/2026 13:22

Sorry it's long but want to avoid obvious questions.

I've recently met and have been dating a man. I'm early 40s he's late 40s. He ticks a lot of my boxes and is clear about what he wants which makes a change from so many men I've met through the apps! He has lots of good qualities.

Now the sticking point - sex. We've slept together - in the same bed - and had some intimacy but no actual sex. I'm all for talking about issues early so we've had a conversation initiated by me.

Short story is he doesn't do penetrative or oral sex from what I can gather. He has some issues clearly but I don't know yet where it stems from. It doesn't sound like his last two relationships were sexual in the traditional sense and he prefers role play, toys, kink (spanking, dirty talk, leaning into role play dynamics) and self pleasure - basically wanking next to each other. He says he has ED and viagra doesn't help. He probably hasn't had PIV sex in nearly two decades.

When we've been together he's touched himself but not me sexually although he is cuddly and affectionate. Not a hand on a boob let alone between my legs. When we've been intimate we've kissed (but not much, he doesn't particularly enjoy snogging or initiate it). It feels a bit like we're having seperate sexual experiences next to each other rather than 'together' if that makes sense.

I like vanilla sex I suppose you would say and feel it's important for intimacy and my enjoyment. I love kissing and touch. I need that 'normal' sex to bond with someone and feel close before moving on to kinks and other stuff.

Can I really continue seeing a man who doesn't do penetrative or oral sex at all?
I know sex might not always be as important to me as I move through menopause - but now I'm peri and horny and I love sex.
Appreciate any views or things I haven't considered.
Should I keep talking to him about it? Should I see if he tries to do something different? We've only just had the conversation - he knows what I want. Do I give him a chance to deliver or at least try?

It's not a conversation he enjoys or finds easy... I suspect deep repressed issues and yes I have considered whether he's grossed out by women's genitals or is gay etc.
I don't want to waste my time or life or have to teach a man how to fuck, frankly.

For contrast the last few men I've dated I've had great sex but they've been crap in so many other ways.
This one is great in the ways they were rubbish and I'm conscious of just discarding an otherwise good man - there aren't many out there and I do want a relationship.

OP posts:
DoloresDelEriba · 02/03/2026 17:57

I know it’s tough out there in dating wasteland hell. But… this bloke sounds awful. Better to be on your own, surely, than put up with that? Move on fast.

Bonkers1966 · 02/03/2026 17:59

Sorry OP. Stay with this guy and you will be cursing yourself this time next year. What a disaster. Gave me the total ick. God love you.

Triskellion75 · 02/03/2026 18:02

Ooh no, just no.

Womaninhouse17 · 02/03/2026 18:10

I also suspect that the kinky stuff he's already told you about is the mere tip of the iceberg.

theDudesmummy · 02/03/2026 18:53

I have only read the OP so far but...no oral? Get out!

I had an XH who didnt really like giving oral but would do it now and then for my sake. It later transpired that he was gay. I would never again have a relationship with a man who wasnt enthusiastically into it.

TwistedWonder · 02/03/2026 19:04

Absolutely no fucking way. I’d rather have no sex than this shit

Emonade · 02/03/2026 19:07

Mynotebookisfull · 02/03/2026 16:37

People who think he's porn addicted - What's the thinking here? Men who watch porn want to fuck and give and receive oral sex!

Not true. If he is into kink he will watch a lot of that and be heavily involved in that. And it will impact actual sex ie he won’t want it or be able to.

DoesthislookgoodOnMe · 02/03/2026 19:26

Keep him as a friend @Mynotebookisfull if you are so adamant but really, as a life partner no , it’s too f’d up!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/03/2026 20:04

Just be good friends not intimate partners

Womaninhouse17 · 02/03/2026 20:17

DoesthislookgoodOnMe · 02/03/2026 19:26

Keep him as a friend @Mynotebookisfull if you are so adamant but really, as a life partner no , it’s too f’d up!

And - ironically - not f'd up at all!

nomoremsniceperson · 02/03/2026 22:10

Mynotebookisfull · 02/03/2026 16:37

People who think he's porn addicted - What's the thinking here? Men who watch porn want to fuck and give and receive oral sex!

PPs have given good explanations. It's a common phenomenon among porn-addicted men. He doesn't actually have total ED, he just can't sustain an erection when he's "only" having normal PIV sex with a real woman. He needs his own hand and a bunch of sex aids to come to orgasm, and you replace the porn he would usually watch as his visual stimulation. I predict he will gradually ask you to do more and more extreme things for him to watch to get himself off if you continue seeing him. Try asking him about his relationship with porn and see if you can get him to admit to it.

jennab29 · 02/03/2026 22:10

Very strange that when he's with you he would touch himself but not you.. I think thats a huge, waving red flag!

Imbusytodaysorry · 02/03/2026 23:19

TFImBackIn · 02/03/2026 13:27

No way would I stay with him. He doesn't kiss you, doesn't touch you... Move on quickly from this man.

BTW I reckon his ED will be due to heavy porn use.

This

StripyShirt · 03/03/2026 11:47

Don't throw your life away by either settling for this or hoping for it to improve over time - it will not.

BeenThereBackThen · 03/03/2026 12:25

I think this is doomed. He essentially can lie there not engaging, thinking about anything including e.g. gay sex and pleasure himself.

Incidentally, could he be gay and just not fancy women?

And how are you supposed to get turned on, without touching etc? That wouldn’t work for
me, i honestly think a good vibrator is simpler and quicker than all of this (and minus the headfuck wondering wtf is going on)

MoonshineSally · 03/03/2026 12:28

Not a hope in hell.

toiletpaperthief · 03/03/2026 12:52

This is a headfuck of the century type of situation, bad for your self esteem and bad for your mental health on the long run OP. Please take care of yourself.

Springspringspringagain · 03/03/2026 13:13

This is a sunk costs fallacy- you are saying, I've already started bonding with him, he's got other good qualities, I don't want all that to go to waste and there's not so many good men out there, so I need to put up with this.

This is wrong in so many ways of reasoning.

There's plenty of men in the world, OP. Like many millions. Not all on Tinder, admittedly, but there isn't a shortage of men whatever anyone says. What you need is a way to sort through them- I always recommend the Burned Haystacks Dating Method (BHDM) for weeding out the 99% of not great guys on the apps or in real life, and then you are left with not very many but the ones you have are super great!

You are starting to sound like his therapist- he deserves love too blah blah. He does- but with someone who shares his kinks and is happy with his level of intimacy, and possibly to explore why he's so shut down over this. You aren't that person if you like PIV sex, oral sex or any other type of sex than lying next to someone who doesn't even want to kiss you!

Join BHDM Facebook and start finding men who are nice on many levels, not just nice on some with a glaring red flag.

Ahthesun · 03/03/2026 14:12

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Ahthesun · 03/03/2026 14:14

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rubytubeytubes · 03/03/2026 14:20

Run as fast as you can

Bunny65 · 03/03/2026 18:01

Mynotebookisfull · 02/03/2026 13:33

Thanks yes. I'm wondering if one more shot having had the conversation about it - has he listened to me? Does he adapt now I've been clear about what I want and expect?

He will only get worse, not better. If he doesn’t want to try at the beginning of a relationship he never will. It sounds like he doesn’t really want any physical intimacy and you would end up feeling terribly rejected.

Moii · 03/03/2026 18:02

I had a very similar situation a few years ago turned out he was a fetish transvestite, the only thing that worked for him was himself dressed up on his own.

SausageSausage · 03/03/2026 18:02

Sounds grim and messy and not fun at all. It’s a no from me.

JMSA · 03/03/2026 18:05

Oh God, no. You will be unsatisfied and with your confidence down the shitter.
I’m also less than impressed that he wasn’t upfront about this from the get-go.