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DH no longer wants to be intimate

(43 Posts)
JW1960 Thu 08-Jun-23 11:51:23

I am 63 and DH is 57 and we have been married 15 years. Sex has always been good and very regular, until about a year ago. Its now about once a month and I felt that recently DH has been avoiding even that. A couple of weeks ago I said to him we need to talk about this. He eventually told me that even thought he still loves me he is no longer sexually attracted to me because I am now not as slim as I was when we married 15 years ago, (menopause since then). I was a size 8 and now a size 12, and yes probably a bit flabby but I swim 4 days a week.
Obviously he has also put on weight but but he is still the man and the body I fell in love with so that doesn't bother me. What did upset me is that he said he will sort himself out when he needs to, if you know what I mean. So it seems that he would rather do that than have sex with me. We agreed we would both make more of an effort with each other and we have had sex since our chat. And I thought we both enjoyed it and we were both satisfied. However since then he has turned me down twice and the last time he said, i'm sorry I just don't fancy you any more, but lets have a cuddle instead, so he is still affectionate towards me but I find that so frustrating. I love him so much but I am not sure what I can do. Any advice?

AGAA4 Thu 08-Jun-23 12:11:35

It was very unkind of your DH to say he doesn't fancy you any more and will see to himself. People who love each other won't care about a few extra pounds.
You have to decide whether you can tolerate this.

ExDancer Thu 08-Jun-23 12:14:32

Welcome to the club!

Thoro Thu 08-Jun-23 12:15:31

I wonder if he is covering up his own inadequacies/ health issues by blaming you?

Bella23 Thu 08-Jun-23 12:25:41

Tell him you will find someone who does and get "Acidently caught ", looking at dating sites.
He's a very lucky man if you are a size 12 most of us after 60 seem to balloon to size 14 +

Dorsetcupcake61 Thu 08-Jun-23 12:38:58

I'm so sorry that you have been treated so unkindly by your husband,like others have mentioned I wonder if it to cover up some inadequacy or insecurity of his own . His comment about " looking after himself" shows a total disregard for your needs and feelings. In some ways I almost hope this is something he is using as an excuse otherwise how would he react if you had a life changing illness?

Oreo Thu 08-Jun-23 13:24:16

AGAA4

It was very unkind of your DH to say he doesn't fancy you any more and will see to himself. People who love each other won't care about a few extra pounds.
You have to decide whether you can tolerate this.

I agree.
I guess he was being honest, but didn’t care how it sounded?
If full sex is really important to you then you both need to find ways to make it more exciting.Plenty of info online if not on GN😂

Oreo Thu 08-Jun-23 13:25:14

To add to that, how lucky he is that you’re just a size 12.

Doodledog Thu 08-Jun-23 13:30:35

Oreo

To add to that, how lucky he is that you’re just a size 12.

I know! I see that as aspirational grin.

Not making light of your situation, JW. It must be very hurtful. Can you talk about this again, and ask if he is having any issues that he hasn't mentioned?

Staceyann Thu 08-Jun-23 13:36:12

Do you do (social) things together? - holidays, weekends away, trips to see shows / films, meals out, etc. How is your life together generally? Do you both still work?

HeavenLeigh Thu 08-Jun-23 13:42:28

Wow! That’s so nasty! And shallow! I take it he’s Mr Adonis. What an awful thing to say to you, and he’s actually put on weight himself, of course that shouldn’t matter most people do put on weight I have through illness my husband has too through illness, we both still fancy each other and will often say it doesn’t matter what weight we both are it’s about the person ! Feel for you JW,

Shelmiss Thu 08-Jun-23 13:47:15

If my husband said the same to me (I just don’t fancy you anymore) then I’m afraid I would never look at him in the same light and would feel so inadequate that it would be the end of the relationship, married for 15 years or not.

That’s such a terrible thing to say to you!

Theexwife Thu 08-Jun-23 13:49:19

It must have been hurtful to hear that he longer fancies you. I doubt it is because of your weight as that would have happened gradually.

You have to decide if you want to continue the relationship knowing that it will not be a physical one, trying to make him have sex with you will only cause resentment, you cannot make someone fancy you.

pascal30 Thu 08-Jun-23 14:07:08

Do you think he may have another relationship and that was what he meant?

I'd say he is jolly lucky if you are size 12...

Esmay Thu 08-Jun-23 14:17:42

Once a week , I meet up with a group of friends , who are all a bit younger then me .

As we've got to know each other we tend to be really frank .

Several of my friends have or have had this problem .

I think that your husband is blaming his lack of interest in sex on you , because the reality is too painful for him to accept :
He's got older and he's less aroused or loses his arousal .
His comment is really cruel . I wonder if he realises what he's said.

A size 8 is really thin and a size 12 is not fat .
Is he looking at the net or his phone a lot ?
Is he secretive ?
Is looking at porn ?
Or dating sites ?

Don't react to his hurtful comments .
No need to starve yourself .

I would discretely see what he's up to !

There's lots of treatment for sexual problems now and as , it's on TV - things have become less shameful and more open .

Staceyann Thu 08-Jun-23 14:23:53

Surely saying “I don’t fancy you any more” is a very shallow comment to say to a partner of 15 years? There must be / should be far more to a relationship that long than fancying someone. Unless one partner had changed hugely (physically or in their character), the relationship should be based on more than what you look like.

Wyllow3 Thu 08-Jun-23 14:27:05

It is very distressing indeed - its OK for him to put on weight and age but.....

I would definitely say I wanted to go for relationship counselling, and go asap.

JW1960 Thu 08-Jun-23 15:38:19

Staceyann

Do you do (social) things together? - holidays, weekends away, trips to see shows / films, meals out, etc. How is your life together generally? Do you both still work?

Hi, Staceyann, we do all those things and more together. We have a lovely life. This is why I can't get my head round it. I thought things were ok and that maybe we were naturally having a little less sex as a lot of couples do but then it became clear it was a bit more than that. He works, I took redundancy a couple of years ago.

JW1960 Thu 08-Jun-23 15:41:43

pascal30

Do you think he may have another relationship and that was what he meant?

I'd say he is jolly lucky if you are size 12...

Hi pascal30, no i'm sure he doesn't have another relationship. I know what he meant, he said it, beginning with the letter W, didn't want to write the actual word in case it wasn't allowed.

HelterSkelter1 Thu 08-Jun-23 15:53:48

Sorry JW I think there could be someone else on the horizon. Make sure your finances are in order. I hope it's not the case.
Counselling for you or joint? I doubt it is anything to do with your size. Mid life crisis?

SporeRB Thu 08-Jun-23 16:03:52

If I were in your position, I will be looking discretely without his knowledge at the search history on his computer and his mobile phone to find out what he is up to.

Lathyrus Thu 08-Jun-23 16:15:01

When men say they don’t fancy someone they mean that they haven’t got physically aroused. It sounds silly but I hadn’t realised that until a few years ago- that for them it’s all about the body response. Whereas for women the fancy you happens I think in the mind first.

So he’s not getting an erection from your presence.

That might mean a general loss of libido. Medical checks in order.

Or it might mean he’s getting aroused by someone else. Even if he’s not actively pursuing that, it can be enough to mean you’re out of the picture.

I’m afraid by his comments on your weight, it feels like the latter. He’s trying to justify himself.

Wyllow3 Thu 08-Jun-23 16:24:30

Only joint counselling any use. And both being prepared to talk about sex. Yes it’s him who needs to talk I think but it could have a joint resolution.
Yes I do believe that men are more inclined to be able to separate sex and love: to me they were always inseparable.

Katie59 Thu 08-Jun-23 16:25:28

Saying he doesn’t fancy you was cruel before you go to GP
try to get him to take Viagra or Cialis, just like women take hormone therapy, men sometimes need extra help.

rosie1959 Thu 08-Jun-23 16:25:50

Definitely know what you mean JW1960 and as far as his comments are concerned I was thinking exactly the same What a W****
Is he so shallow and full of himself that your size be it still very slim is that important.
Probably more likely it’s an excuse as he male member no longer works.