Can being in a sexless marriage cause a form of sex addiction?

[Seriousquestionforyou]

Just putting this out there. If a man was living in a sexless marriage and filled this void by going on chat sites, for phone sex, and meeting women (then feeling guilt afterwards but repeating the process time and time again) would you consider this a sex addiction?

Only if he was a Hollywood actor 😂. I think I’d feel he was a bit pathetic really.

Probably no.
It’s symptomatic behaviour in all likelihood and compensatory.
Its behaviour which is not helping the primary relationship although that may possibly be irretrievable given your description.

No - but he is probably looking for something missing in his relationship ( sex and emotional connection), time to end things and move on for both of you

I wouldn't be looking to pathologise the situation. He's missing something he needs from the relationship and he's replaced it. If he gets used to the replacement, that's really no surprise and it will take hard work, understanding and honest and kind communication from both of you to retrieve it

No, I’d call it meeting a very human need. It’s the men that claim their domestic situation is that bleak but are in fact lying that are opportunistic creeps. If the primary relationship is indeed lacking intimacy and communication/compensation both parties have some responsibility for that.

Yep, you’ve put it more eloquently than me …. 👍

Thanks all.