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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

Boyfriend in his 30s is wonderful but rarely wants sex

587 replies

RoseKitten · 13/03/2026 00:23

My boyfriend and I are both in our 30s. I love him deeply. He is kind, very attentive, ambitious, good with my friends, family and nieces, and very attractive. He goes to the gym 5x a week, and it shows: he is in incredible shape. I dream of marrying and having children with this man. I know he would be a wonderful husband and father.

However, he seems uninterested in sex. I knew something was a bit 'off' when we first started dating: he didn't invite me to his place until about date 7 or 8, and that was only because I basically invited myself around. When I went around, I was expecting to stay the night (although it wasn't explicitly discussed), but he told me he had to go to bed early because he needed to be up at 4am, so he dropped me back at about 10pm.

When we do have sex, it's fantastic. He is an amazing lover, and I find him so physically attractive, but we don't have sex enough for my liking, and I just feel it is not important to him. He very rarely initiates, and he always wants to take me out rather than spend time with me at home. Maybe I am being paranoid, but he seems to do everything possible to spend as little time as possible at my place or his.

Some other things that did/do not 'add up' for me:

  • After about date 5 or 6, we were WhatsApping one night, and I asked when he would invite me around. He wrote something like, "Netflix and chill is low-effort. I need to take you out to nice places." I wrote, "The "chill" part is nice, though, no? ;)" He then wrote, "If you want a f*boy, I am not the man for you."
  • Despite his seeming lack of interest in sex, he has no problem showing me affection (kissing, holding hands etc.) in public, and he DOES initiate these things most of the time.
  • I am a bit ashamed to admit this, but I did once go through his phone when he was out of the room, and there was nothing in there that suggests he is cheating.
  • As I said at the start of the message, going to the gym is a big part of his life, and he looks amazing. He is also quite particular about his appearance - teeth, hair, skin, everything. I know the gym and grooming etc. have all sorts of benefits, but surely one of them is to look sexually attractive. In other words, I've always felt that men who put so much effort into their appearances do so at least in part because sex is important to them, and they want to look as good as possible for it, yet... sex is not a priority for him.

To finishing things up, 98%, 99% of our relationship is so good, but this final 1-2% is so important, yet I feel almost greedy wanting it. I want to discuss it with him, but a) I don't know how to approach it, b) I am not worried about his reaction (we have discussed difficult topics before, and he has always been calm, respectful, understanding and helpful), but I am worried that he may tell me something I have not prepared for.

So,

  1. What do you think the issue(s) may be?
  2. How do I approach discussing them with him?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Holdmeclosertinydancer2018 · 13/03/2026 06:32

Generally low sex drive
Porn addled
Crossdresser

Holdmeclosertinydancer2018 · 13/03/2026 06:32

Or gay

TooManyCupsAndMugs · 13/03/2026 06:32

You keep saying how wonderful and perfect he is "except for this 1 or 2%" but IT ISN'T 1 or 2% is it? It's a huge area of incompatibility. If you want more sex than he wants to have and shames you for wanting it, he possibly isn't for you.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/03/2026 06:32

How much is ‘not a lot’. Your drive just might be higher? The norm is twice a month in long term relationships and married people have sex more than single people.

If you’re getting it 2-4 times a month that’s more than average and it’s just your expectation is more.

People always think others are having more sex, the stats do not bear this out.

theresbeautyinwindysun · 13/03/2026 06:45

Not one year in surely? No way is that statistic pertinent to a couple dating one year with no kids in the house.

NeverAloneNeverAgain · 13/03/2026 06:46

Another one wondering how often you have sex. Are we talking weekly, monthly etc?

Ultimately you have different sex drives and seem to place different priorities on sex. Neither of you are wrong and it doesn't need to mean he's gay anymore than it doesn't need to mean you're a sex pest! The big question is whether you can accept this in the relationship. If not move on and find someone who is more suited to you physically.

EvieBB · 13/03/2026 06:48

AutumnAllTheWay · 13/03/2026 00:32

Porn addled

Real life sex not appealing- too many smells/ sounds etc and nowhere near the novelty he now needs

Increasingly common

That is Soo depressing!

EvieBB · 13/03/2026 06:54

RoseKitten · 13/03/2026 01:36

But when we do have sex, it's incredible. It is the best sex I have ever had. That's what makes it more confusing: if it were boring or he just cared about himself or just wanted to get it finished ASAP, I would think maybe he is selfish or not 100% heterosexual, but it isn't.

OMG.....how utterly frustrating for you...
Sorry OP
Only you can know if you can hack this long term
I suspect it will wear you down over time....my sympathies

Whoknows101 · 13/03/2026 06:55

The overwhelming majority of these messages sound completely unhinged to me, given that you dont appear to have mentioned a single time how often you have actually been having sex?!

Honestly, imagine if this thread was the other way round? "Boyfriend thinks I'm a lesbian because I only want sex once a week".... this hold thread is a laughable indictment of the lunacy of mumsnet sometimes.

And the comments about how odd it is waiting for date 7-8 to do the deed.... words fail me if this is the state of society right now.

Callmebubblesdarlingeverybodydoes · 13/03/2026 06:56

This reads EXACTLY like a smut book I’m currently reading!

Queenofheart · 13/03/2026 06:56

LizzieSaid · 13/03/2026 00:58

Just a guess... Sounds like he is gay, but his vanity won't let him accept being seen in public with a man, so you are the symbol of his 'heterosexualness' to the public eye, friends and family. Possibly also why he always wants to be out and about with you.

Edited

This was my first thought after reading.

Seaoftroubles · 13/03/2026 06:56

OP, we can all make guesses and assumptions but the truth is no one knows, only him. He may have a low sex drive, some men do, and it sounds like sex isn't important to him but you need to hear his from him and then it's up to you to decide if you want to continue. Be brave and open up a conversation with him. Just tell him everything else is good but you would like more sex in your relationship and see what he says and then you can decide.

Ophir · 13/03/2026 06:57

I think there are some men still who see certain women as the type of woman they’d like to marry who is too pure to have lots of sex

I couldn’t put up with this and I’m old!

I wouldn’t be too quick to write off steroids either. Or conversely maybe he needs a bit of test!

Do you have spontaneous sex? Or is it likely he has takes viagra when he knows it’s expected?

Shithotlawyer · 13/03/2026 06:58

It's also not the sex that is the problem it's the communication!

So many short, strange things he says. Then you are left puzzled and with the strong sense you're not allowed to ask more. "Massages are for you not me." I bet there are more pronouncements like this. Then i read you've been dating him for a YEAR!!! Your vibe about him is a mix of fascinated and perplexed like someone you don't know well and have a crush on. What can he meeeeeean?

You have to have the uncomfortable conversation that pps above have said. You will learn if he has the essential skills for long relationships:-

  • whether he is able to react well to you coming to him with a problem, respect your feelings and give you attention
  • whether he can handle talking about messy stuff where he doesn't get to look in control and perfect
  • whether he can admit there is a problem or if he nastily turns it on you.

One of the suckiest things about humans is that the ones with the biggest secret "fault lines" within them can seem the best on the outside.

So a partner with a secret they are hiding (as pps have said, eg being gay, being sexually into a fetish you won't share, secret coke or steroid addiction, hiding historical abuse or eating disorder, massively incel filled with misogynistic hate)...these people can seem amazing and be so fun to be with, thoughtful, caring, gorgeous... You're not allowed to see behind the curtain and see the "less good" parts of them. But eventually it all falls down.

I only have a few posts from you to go on, but this gives me a real sense of something hidden. His emotional attention is elsewhere.

stapletonsguitar · 13/03/2026 06:58

RoseKitten · 13/03/2026 01:22

I did have this discussion with friends. There is just nothing that suggests he is gay/confused, and, believe me, I've looked for things.

The”nothing” that suggests he’s gay is the fact he doesn’t want to sleep with you.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 13/03/2026 06:59

Given what you’ve said about the sex being amazing when you do have it, I think it sounds more likely that he just has a really low sex drive (or rather, low compared to you). But you’re not wrong, or “greedy” as you said, to want more. Sex is clearly important to you - it is to me too! And I wouldn’t be happy in a relationship where I felt sexually unsatisfied, either because of bad sex, or great but infrequent sex. I think it will really wear you down over time.

StarlightLady · 13/03/2026 07:02

LaurieFairyCake · 13/03/2026 06:32

How much is ‘not a lot’. Your drive just might be higher? The norm is twice a month in long term relationships and married people have sex more than single people.

If you’re getting it 2-4 times a month that’s more than average and it’s just your expectation is more.

People always think others are having more sex, the stats do not bear this out.

Norm twice a month in long term relationships? Really? I’d be interested to know who came up with those figures and indeed how? Certainly nobody asked me.

l can just imagine someone coming up to me in the street with a clipboard and “excuse me madam …🤔

And amongst my friendship group there are a number of singletons doing alright as well.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 13/03/2026 07:03

stapletonsguitar · 13/03/2026 06:58

The”nothing” that suggests he’s gay is the fact he doesn’t want to sleep with you.

Men with lower sex drives aren’t all automatically gay. I agree with the PP who said that if a woman said “my partner thinks I’m a lesbian because we don’t have enough sex for him” people would say he was being absolutely ridiculous.
Some men have lower sex drives. Doesn’t mean OP should stay in the relationship, I personally wouldn’t. But it doesn’t mean he must be secretly gay.

Ariana12 · 13/03/2026 07:08

Im so sorry OP but it feels as though you are trying to persuade yourself through MN that everything is or will somehow be OK. But it really isn't. He may be gay, with virtually no sex drive or abusing steroids. Doesn't matters. You're in your thirties and with a guy who makes you feel bad for wanting to have sex with him. That's REALLY not good for you. You could talk to him and let him know how this makes you feel. But that f*boy comment came from somewhere very deep inside him. So i dont see how you "persuade" him to match you in physicality. Im so sorry but Id let this go, however painful.

Ophir · 13/03/2026 07:13

Yeah, it’s no fun wondering why your partner doesn’t fancy you

DaisiesButtercups · 13/03/2026 07:20

Is he working full time? How long are his gym sessions? How can a relationship be 99% good if you hardly ever see each other because he doesn’t have enough time? I’m guessing this is a new relationship. He’s not into you and you’re wasting your time.

CarCarCare · 13/03/2026 07:22

Maybe the poor man is afraid to initiate as he's exhausted from having sex twice a day at the behest of the OP?

However she wants it 5 times a day so is dissatisfied!

We'll never know until the OP decides to tell us the crucial piece of information that's missing.

AmandaBrotzman · 13/03/2026 07:23

LaurieFairyCake · 13/03/2026 06:32

How much is ‘not a lot’. Your drive just might be higher? The norm is twice a month in long term relationships and married people have sex more than single people.

If you’re getting it 2-4 times a month that’s more than average and it’s just your expectation is more.

People always think others are having more sex, the stats do not bear this out.

You know how averages work? 2-4 times a month is an average between people who never do it and people who do it 5 times a week. So what if the average is 2-4 times a month? This would NEVER be enough for me at this stage in my life. Maybe when I'm 70 it will be. Why shame someone for wanting more than the average couple?

Lennonjingles · 13/03/2026 07:24

Anyone remember the guy in MAFS who didn’t want a lot of sex as it messed up his gym routine. I do think a year into relationship you need a conversation about this, you don’t need to start with the sex, just ask how he thinks you are doing as a couple, is there anything more he wants from you, then you can bring sex into the conversation, he’s made it clear so far. I would settle for incredibly good sex twice a month, than average sex 2/3 times a week.

rosiebr · 13/03/2026 07:32

How often do you see each other? How often do you have sex?

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