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How to have the talk?

9 replies

Cantthinkofcoolname · 18/06/2020 22:13

We (me and DH) have only had sex once in the last 2 years. Weve been married 25 years together 30. There is some ED and medical problems for him, which is why I am struggling to bring it up with him...i don't know how to say things that I don't think I will like the answer to. Sex just isn't ever mentioned anymore. I gave up a while ago. I find it too hard to think about because in my mind its obvious he just doesn't want me anymore, what ifs are constantly running through my head. Shit...sorry if im not making sense. Im just so fed up, how do i broach the subject?

OP posts:
AverageGuy · 19/06/2020 08:25

OP,
Firstly Flowers for you.
I was in exactly the same situation, but reversed, iyswim. My XW completely lost her libido when she hit menopause, and our sex life became non-existent. We, at least, managed to talk about it, and decided that we should divorce (there were other issues). That may not be for you.

Lots of men suffer from ED, and struggle to face it, never mind talk about it. Viagra is available without prescription now. If he won't buy it, maybe you should!

If he has further complications, then he may simply not be able to get an erection any more - imagine what that does do his self worth.

Does he show you any intimacy? Hugs & kisses for instance? Does he / would he be prepared to use his fingers and tongue? Admittedly not PIV, but at least you would know he still wants you, and cares about your pleasure.

It comes down to what you want to do about it. You don't say how old you are, but I'm going out on a limb and guess that you are in your 50's.

Do you love him enough to stay with him despite potentially never having penetrative sex again?

Would you consider an open marriage?

Would you consider going outside the marriage for sex?

Are there other options for you both?

There is a big world out there, and (imho) life is too short to spend years not having sex.

concertlover · 19/06/2020 11:59

Apart from the lack of sex, do you have a happy relationship: do you enjoy each other's company, have fun, support each other through sad and difficult times, do you kiss and cuddle etc.?
If not, then I'm afraid you simply must have the talk.

Cantthinkofcoolname · 19/06/2020 20:04

Thank you for the replies averageguy and concertlover I will try to answer so...the medical issues have been around for about 7/8 years i kind of noticed that he only ever really wanted bjs (we both had orgasms)but he would always come during foreplay (not prematurely he just wouldn't take it further iykwim) i used to think he was just being a bit lazy. The ed started a couple of years ago he has difficulty maintaining and finishing. I get that its embarrassing, which is why i havent felt like i could bring it up. I have in the past suggested he go to gp for a testosterone check and I have suggested viagra he says he went to gp but that he wasn't very helpful...so im not sure he did.
There is very little kissing cuddling or affection, im not sure if that's my fault cos I'm mad about this that I just think why bother now. Tbh I've thought for a long time that he actively avoids going to bed at the same time I do, waiting until I'm asleep before coming up. I do love him we've been together so long i can't imagine life without him in it been together since we were both 18. Anyway i will come back to this a bit later, if you got to the end well done it feels like i have written an essay sorry any advice on how to spring this conversation on him gratefully received x

OP posts:
DevonshireCat · 20/06/2020 10:07

The talk is essential but also next to impossible.

There's a unfairness in this situation. You want to talk to resolve the issue but for the person with low interest, it's not something they want to hear about. It's like me wanting to have a life changing chat with you about Game of Thrones when it's something you have no interest in. So the partner having withdrawn can also make it clear that talking about it to resolve is off limits.

Your anxiety over the issue means there's no good time to talk either. If you are close, it can be a passion killer. If you are stressed about it you end up getting too emotional. I've been told that on a drive works when youre not face to face and can hold off replying while you focus on the road.

I'd be prepared for step 2 after the talk. What if your DP says : this is it. This is all I can offer. I can't/won't do more to be closer to you. As many have said on here you have no right to have an affair, and the DP has every right not to be physically affectionate. Your options are to fix it, live with it, or leave.

I am trying to get help so I can have the talk. Wishing you all the best.

Cantthinkofcoolname · 20/06/2020 22:05

Thank you for the reply @DevonshireCat tbh i hadn't thought much about his response. I was kind of hoping for a best case scenario of him realizing that he does kind of love me, does need me, does want me and want to be with me and will sort his shit out and start showing it. Maybe that's not how he's going to respond.
Affairs aren't an option...so i need to fix it or leave....which I'm not sure is an option either. Fml! so down tonight. I don't have any options. Let's face it if my husband doesn't want me who the fuck will?

OP posts:
Cantthinkofcoolname · 20/06/2020 22:20

I kind of always thought that when I got married all those years ago that it was for life. Till death do us part, forsaking all others. That's not to say that i disagree with divorce, i just never thought it was for me. I'm not sure what to do. I don't have any one to talk to...strangers in my phone are all there is. Shit how fucking sad am i ?

OP posts:
DevonshireCat · 20/06/2020 22:48

@Cantthinkofcoolname that's a very big leap from having an non-affectionate partner to having no worth as a friend, colleague or family member.

This is a very specific problem - but a big one - that could be solved or at least reach a resolution with the right discussion. As I work out more I'll post here.

AverageGuy · 22/06/2020 09:15

Op,
It's something that you were giving each other orgasms through foreplay. Did he reciprocate on the oral front? If not, it sounds a bit like it was all about him - although I could be jumping to conclusions...

It also sounds like that side of things has also died out.

He may or may not have seen his GP. In my experience, GP's are quite happy to prescribe Viagra. As I said before, it can now be bought over the counter, (although some Chemists like you to have seen your GP beforehand), so he really doesn't have that as an excuse.

His ambivalence towards you is very much him, not you. It's very easy for you to believe that there is something wrong with you - I'm sure that there isn't.

@DevonshireCat brings up valid points. Before you get into discussions, think about what result you want. Expect the best, but maybe be prepared for the worst.

He will have to want to change, and it doesn't sound like he wants to very much right now.

You have been with him all your adult life - it's going to be incredibly hard to visualise life without him, so you might have to decide if you can put up with no sex life, and from the sounds of it very little intimacy (obviously, there are toys and things, to help with self pleasure, but it's not the same), so that you can stay together, or whether it's time to call it quits, and find someone that will give you what you want.

As to how to start the discussion, if hotels where open, I'd say maybe do it away from home. Book a room somewhere, and sit him down.

Be open and honest with him. Tell him what you want from the relationship, and ask him what he wants. Be prepared for tears.

I've been where you are. I know how hard it is, and I really feel for you.

Have a long distance virtual hug!

I'm lucky, in that I still have a good relationship with my XW - I still love her, but in a different way - but I simply could not live the rest of my life with no sex, and very little intimacy. Something had to change.

I did what I suggested to you. I booked a hotel, and we went away for the weekend. I was incredibly nervous, and she knew there was something up.

We got to the hotel, and I sat her down in the bedroom, took her hand, and said something like, "we have to talk". It all came flooding out. I found myself repeating things like "I still love you", and there were tears (from both of us), but no recriminations.

Since then I've found out that she suffers from depression, and that the menopause hit her hard. She lost her libido, and had some major body and self image issues. Of course, me being an idiot man, missed all of this... (It didn't help that I was working away from home a lot)

I don't regret that we divorced (well, I'm nearly sixty, single and haven't had sex for some time, but that's a different story!), but I do wish that we had talked openly and honestly earlier - maybe we could have found a way forward that would have worked for us both.

Sorry for the rambling response...

Anotherblokelurking · 23/06/2020 08:20

“Lots of men suffer from ED, and struggle to face it, never mind talk about it. Viagra is available without prescription now. If he won't buy it, maybe you should!”

He may have gone off sex because of the ED and other medical issues referred to., he may still want sex but is too embarrassed to initiate in case it ends in failure and disappointment. Sometimes and especially in older men ED problems, especially if he can get an erection but can’t maintain it, may be caused by prostate issues, enlarged prostate or even prostate cancer. He needs to be honest with himself If he has other issues, up in the night to wee, urgent need to go, weak flow, blood in wee or semen. If so he needs to get checked out.

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