Sex & Romance
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XP: FI Doesn't Need Sex? (long)

My FI and I are getting married in a few months and lately I feel like we are on completely different pages.  He has always had a lower sex drive than me but lately things are just way out of control. 

We've been together for almost 5 years, so I've always known we had different drives, but we were typically having sex anywhere from 1-3 times a week.  I wasn't thrilled when it was only once, but I survived and used my vibrator on myself when he wasn't in the mood.  Recently, I was taking antidepressants and my sex drive was non-existent.  I stopped mentioning or initiating sex, I just didn't care anymore and it seemed he didn't either. 

 I'm off the meds now and my sex drive is back.  We are averaging sex once every 6-8 weeks and I want to hang my head in shame.  He NEVER brings up the fact that we don't have sex and when I try to talk to him about it, he turns it around on me.  I'll tell him I think it's strange and sad that we never have sex and try to ask him why he thinks that is.  "I don't know, what do you think?" is what he typically says.  "What can we do?"  I say.  "I don't know, what do you think?" 

He says he does want sex, but I don't get that feeling whatsoever.  I feel like FI could go the rest of his life without having sex with me. I feel unloved, undesired by him, unattractive and like I am doomed in my pending marriage.

I feel as though we are becoming roommates and even he recognizes this.  There is little intimate interaction between us right now.  We don't snuggle in bed (we both like our space while we sleep, but there's no making out before we sleep or when we wake up,) no romance, no dates.  All the sweetness in our relationship seems very prescribed.  I keep thinking about how any sex life we will have in our future will be me and my vibrator, occasionally FI and that's just depressing.  The sex we do have varies from hot but unadventurous (he's definitely conservative in this area) to downright boring and quick because there's so much time between sexual encounters.  I find myself thinking about being with a man who could have all of the positive qualities I see in my FI but would have a strong sex drive, would send me suggestive texts or emails (which FI just doesn't go for), would be more dominant instead of my passive, fall asleep on the couch every night FI.  I feel horribly guilty saying that and yet I feel justified in feeling the way I do. 

I realize my FI is not a faultless man nor is he horrible and that both of us need to improve here, but I don't know where to go with this.  We didn't do pre-cana, but I don't see him wanting to discuss this in counseling.  He is very touchy about the subject of our sex life.  Money is tight and he doesn't think counseling will help us have more sex.  He has been to the doctor twice to have his hormone levels checked and he is perfectly healthy.

I just feel so defeated.  Our relationship has had its ups and downs like any will, but I have always felt we were pretty solid overall.  It feels horrible to think that the wedding is just a few short months away and I almost feel like it things are just going to get worse from here.  I am in a sexless marriage that hasn't even begun yet.  

Re: XP: FI Doesn't Need Sex? (long)

  • You should really be able to sit down and have an honest conversation with your FI about issues like this. If you feel like you're not getting what you need, then you need to be able to tell him.  I know that in my own relationship sex has been the hardest part to navigate-- we've been together 8 years and my sex drive is definitely lower now than it was at the start.  However, we talk about it and what we can do and try new things, etc.

    If you're already thinking about other guys, I would sit down and talk with him before the wedding... 

     

  • If he is unwilling to go to counseling that is a HUGE problem.  I would not marry until you have resolved this issue.  I am serious.  Where as I don't know your situation exactly, a sexless marriage is bad news.  This sounds a lot like what I went through.  

    I understand that money is tight, but if you want to make this relationship work, counseling needs to happen.  I mean you got to ask yourself "is this relationship worth 300 dollars a month" to save?  It will mostly likely get worse and worse about the sex life.

     

    Blog: Not to be Koi

    Sara, Friend?
    image
    glove slap. I don't take crap.
  • could he be gay? depressed himself?

  • Gay or depressed? Don't think so -- I think the relationship has run its course.

  • If you can't have a discussion about this, you've got bigger issues and should seriously reconsider your intention to marry this man. Can you spend your life like this?

    ITA with Tarpon, I think it's time to let this relationship go and find someone more compatible. 

  • Yeah, dude. This is exactly what happened to me, and I ended up getting married because I wasn't ready to give up the relationship yet. We didn't talk about it, never worked on it, never went to counseling after getting married. Our marriage lasted 9 months. It was so much more difficult to deal with the split after getting married than before. Our divorce has been amicable, but I had no idea how many other people (family, friends, everyone who supported your marriage) would be hurt by the divorce. I should have cut and run before the wedding or at least delayed it until we had a chance to work on it. If you don't go to counseling, you don't stand a chance.
  • Yeah, dude. This is exactly what happened to me, and I ended up getting married because I wasn't ready to give up the relationship yet. We didn't talk about it, never worked on it, never went to counseling after getting married. Our marriage lasted 9 months. It was so much more difficult to deal with the split after getting married than before. Our divorce has been amicable, but I had no idea how many other people (family, friends, everyone who supported your marriage) would be hurt by the divorce. I should have cut and run before the wedding or at least delayed it until we had a chance to work on it. If you don't go to counseling, talk about this, make it the HUGE deal that it is, you don't stand a chance.
  • imageTarponMonoxide:

    Gay or depressed? Don't think so -- I think the relationship has run its course.

    this.  Sorry.

  • It could definitely be something like depression.  Stress, especially since you've already mentioned money is tight, can be a big libido killer.  He might be embarrassed about discussing it with you so maybe try to be really sensitive in how you approach the topic again.  Make sure he knows you're not putting blame on him.  Men can be too prideful sometimes. Is he masterbating at all?  Maybe he is stimulating himself without you knowing (like in the shower)?  Maybe if he stopped then he would have more of a drive for you?  There was a thread on men masterbating too much on here somewhere and a lot of women said it effected there sex life.  Either way, this is something that needs to de dealt with before you marry, especially since you already are feeling doomed!
  • Oops. I didn't even see this thread and I posted the same problem just now. Well, my fiance will talk to me about it, and I think if I push, he'll get some therapy. Other than that, I'm sort of in the same boat. (only I'm not as upset about it and our relationship doesn't feel doomed to me)
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Being in the medical field I can tell you that a lot of men out there with low libidos actually have low testosterone.  If he's willing to be tested, it's an easy fix with hormone replacement.  If he's refusing even to look into physical causes for his low libido, then it's likely time to reassess your relationship. He should at least be willing to talk with you about it with some encouragement and reassurance of course (it can be very embarrassing for men)...if he's not, it's a very poor outlook for your future marriage, I'm afraid.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
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