×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Saturday
06
Dec 2025
weather symbol
Athens 13°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Lifestyle

What to do when you or your partner are not in the mood for sex like you used to be

The expert's answer to a question from a young lady

Newsroom February 27 06:07

When is sex too little in a relationship? A young woman wonders what she can do to awaken her partner’s appetite for sex, who over time seems to no longer want her like he used to.

“We have been together for almost 5 years. Both around 35 and now we don’t have sex except a few times a month.

We both work a lot, so I understand that this is also a part of everyday life that causes stress, but the missing intimacy bothers me more.

He continues to be affectionate with me, hugs and kisses me during the day or at night on the couch, but he doesn’t do anything more,” the woman writes.

She goes on to say that even when she makes a move her partner either rejects her or gets involved, but reluctantly.

“He says he’s stressed at work, but I feel like he’s pulling away from me and no longer wants me like he used to.

I know the ‘flame’ fades over time in relationships, but my friends are having sex like they used to.

I’m jealous. I want to feel desirable again because I want him. I want to marry him and have kids.

How is that going to happen if our sex life is already frustrating? How can I approach him without appearing to please him?”

The answer from the expert

Sophia Benoit, sex editor at Bustle, responds to the young woman by stressing that you have to be patient, but be careful that patience doesn’t turn into acceptance and you are, by now, living unhappily.

“Definitely, you have to talk to your partner with honesty and respect.

Explain to him, without feeling like you are apologizing – you live together, he is your closest person – that you are not satisfied with your love life and you feel that he ignores you or that he no longer wants you.

Sure, you have to be patient, but be careful that this patience doesn’t turn into acceptance and you end up living unhappily in the relationship – in which you generally have a good time,” she writes, and goes on to suggest seeing a relationship counsellor.

“Sex brings out a lot of feelings, insecurities and needs that are often difficult to communicate to our partners.

Our culture discourages people from talking about sex in the first 18 years of our lives, so most of us are not used to having these kinds of conversations. It can be helpful to have the input of an expert.”

She goes on to note that her partner’s psychology may be depressed, which is why he doesn’t have much of an appetite for sex. “It’s very common for depression to significantly reduce a person’s sex drive.

While it’s perfectly normal for someone’s libido to decrease or for two people to disagree about how often they would like to have sex, if your partner used to want sex and now has a hard time it might be a sign of depression.

Of course, there’s a chance you’re just a couple where your libido doesn’t match at the moment.

If – after you two have thoroughly discussed your sexual needs and desires – that’s where it comes down to, focus on enjoying the sex you’re having Explore sex-related things you both enjoy, like showering together or sexting. You should both try.”

See Also:

Queen Letizia: With Felipe at the memorial service of the former King Constantine – Photos

Finally, the sex editor brings up the possibility that all of this is due to issues her partner has with their relationship in general. “The decrease in sex may be related to a different issue your partner is having with your relationship.

If this is happening, firstly, he should mention it to you as you have been together for many years.

Secondly, you should be aware of the possibility that this may be linked to how he feels about your life together.

It is important that you listen to him and that you both make a genuine effort to deal with it – if you want to stay together. If you feel that he’s not interested in making things better for both of you, that’s a bad sign.

Remember, in any case, you are not alone.

>Related articles

Cheating: Do men or women forgive more easily?

Ideas of traditional male-female roles as breadwinners still strong in the West, study reveals

Pope suggests Catholic Church could bless same-sex couples

This is a common and treatable problem.

But it is also thorny and painful. It will probably “wake up” insecurities for both of you.

But on the other hand, you will get to know and love each other better. And possibly have more sex!”.

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#couples
> More Lifestyle

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Greece on the European economic map: signals of reward, early debt repayment and Pierrakakis’ nomination for the Eurogroup

December 6, 2025

Farmers across Greece are toughening their stance as they reinforce their roadblocks

December 6, 2025

History has treated her unfairly”: The 400-year mystery surrounding Shakespeare’s wife and son

December 6, 2025

Clash between two professors over a female student: Vulgar flyers, phone calls for “dates,” and slashed tires

December 6, 2025

Alexandros Grigoropoulos: 17 years since the murder that marked an entire generation

December 6, 2025

Enipeas River overflows: 112 issues evacuation order for settlement near Farsala – Four areas on alert

December 6, 2025

Papastavrou: The ministerial meeting of the Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the USA group in Washington in April

December 5, 2025

European Commission handbook depicts the East Aegean islands and the Dodecanese as Turkish

December 5, 2025
All News

> Lifestyle

Is the myth of youth collapsing? Why the best years of our lives start after 40

Scientists explain that life gets better as we get older and happiness peaks in our 60s and 70s

December 3, 2025

Why some people are always late to their appointments – The 5 types

December 2, 2025

Simona Procházková: Miss Czech Republic wants to inspire the world through her activism

December 2, 2025

Christina Koletsa welcomes December at the beach

December 1, 2025

Billy Bo: The first famous Greek to die of AIDS – His humble childhood, international career, and tragic end

December 1, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2025 Πρώτο Θέμα