It’s a scenario played out in bedrooms across the globe: One person makes a move, and the other bats them away, saying, “Not tonight.” But what do you do when your partner’s rarely — if ever — in the mood? How do you handle being the partner with the amped-up libido?
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to resign yourself to a life of s*xual frustration. There are solutions — if you’re willing to work at it.
What affects a person’s s*x drive?
s*x drive is fluid and individual and can go up and down due to stress, energy levels, body image, well-being and the state of the relationship. It can also reflect medical issues, like sleep disorders and hormonal imbalance.
Australian s*xologist Dr. Nikki Goldstein explains, “We’re all different people with different desires.”
New York s*x therapist Dr. Stephen Snyder agrees and links desire to libido. “Drives are things like hunger and thirst that we’d die of if we didn’t satisfy. Nobody dies from lack of s*x.
Rather, [s*x therapists] tend to think of libido as a capacity to respond to something you find s*xy with desire or arousal,” he tells SheKnows.
Both experts say it’s common for one partner to have a higher libido than the other, but according to Goldstein, “It doesn’t mean you’re incompatible, and it’s not something to be fearful of.”
Though men are stereotyped as the pursuers, the reverse is also common. As Goldstein puts it, the myth is men are goal-oriented — “or hole-oriented, if you will!” — and women feel obligated. She believes for many couples, the issue isn’t libido, but rather boredom.
“Women have creative minds, and many want to explore their se*uality, but why would they keep doing something if they’re not getting satisfaction out of it?” she says.
Not only that, but women tend to lose desire unless someone is giving them something worth desiring, Snyder adds.
The same goes for men. Boredom as well as issues like erect!le dysfunction, P0*n overuse, loss of confidence and relationship stress can all cause a man’s libido to cool.
Over time, those differences in desire can take an emotional toll on a relationship, as one partner feels constantly rejected and the other tired of fending off s*xual advances.
As a couple, Snyder says, it’s important to recognize the negative cycle you’re in so you can work on getting out of it.
Syncing up
If you’re feeling s*xually unsatisfied in your relationship, communication is crucial — and Goldstein says to offer specific suggestions. Instead of just letting your partner know you’re not happy, “tell them what to do so there are no guessing games.”
Similarly, Snyder points out people want s*x for a number of reasons: looking for an climax, attention, reassurance or to feel close to their partner.
His advice is to figure out what your motivations are and then frame them in a positive way (rather than a complaint).
He gives an example that’s as simple as saying, “I think if we had s*x once a week, that would make me feel better about myself and us.” By solving emotional issues, you’ll be one step closer to a more synced-up s*x life.
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