Combating frigidity. HELP!

[e_room_matt]

Sorry for the long post but I'm really desparate for some help and I figure more info is better. Some of this may be just so I can get my thoughts out of my head.

My story: Male, 28 years old, married 5 years, one kid, 2 years old. I've been experiencing a gradual fade in the passion and frequency of our sex. I can't remember the last time we did anything other than missionary. We usually have about an hour of sex every week to 10 days. Trying to force any more than that in and she starts complaining. Any less and I'm complaining.

My issues: I love sex and place too big an emphasis on it in our relationship. I get grumpy if it's been longer than a week. My wife is the only woman I've ever had sex with and I think I pressure on her because there is so much I haven't experienced (and frankly will never experience).

Her issues: Personality wise, she is Charlotte from Sex in the City (I'm embarrassed to even admit that knowledge). She prudish and even keel. Sexually she just wants to feel safe and intimate. She wants our sex life to be safe and predictable. Compares sex to her favorite meal, loves it once in a while, but not every day. Hates to experiment, hates to be in charge. Complains if she even has to try being on top. Won't give oral and doesn't like it when I give her oral (makes her feels distant from me and out of control).

Here's what I've tried and the results:

1. Communicating more.
-This is not as simple as it sounds. I've commicated my feelings and we've discussed this situation and legth but we are at an impass. Nobody feels like they can give any more.
Results: She feels it makes a difference when we talk more, but I don't notice any change in the sex department.

2. Accepting my wife (and her meager sex drive) as she is.
-Hoping that taking some of the pressure off her and allowing her to take a bigger role in our sex life, I tried to lay off and let her dictate the pace of things for a while.
Results: Horrible. I lasted about 3 weeks in the Sahara Desert. I was a jerk and we finally had some decent make up sex, but nothing different.

3. Mapping my wifes menstral cycle.
Results: I've definately identified a couple day period of the month where she is consistantly in the mood, but I'm still hopeless for what to do the other 3 weeks.

4. Putting more emphasis on my wife's orgams and sexual experience.
-Not trying to brag but in 5 years I've learned to play my wife like a piano. Our normal sexual routine usually results in me going once, her going twice (usually takes about the same amount of time).
Results: Doesn't seem to make a difference how big or frequent they are, orgasm's aren't what my wife is primarily looking for from sex.

5. Putting less emphasis on my wife's orgams.
-This sounds backwards, but I've heard with prudish women they can feel manipulated by orgasms they don't control. As a result I've tried periods where I've cut her off from orgasms and tried to put more emphasis on kissing and massage to generate more intimacy.
Results: Failure. My wife still definately likes to orgasm (big surprise).

6. Reducing my wife's stress.
-Obviously this is easier said than done, but I've made an effort it take a bigger role in managing the household chores (I do all the dishes and get the kid ready in the morning now).
Results: She definatly blames this for her lack of desire, but I'm skeptical. I haven't noticed any improvement despite my efforts and I was complaining about our sex life back before we had a kid and my wife didn't even have a job.

7. Learning to Orgasm together.
-She doesn't like the distance that she experiences when I make her orgasm manually. Although it is harder than juggling using our standard missionary position, I've learned to coordinate things to where we often orgasm together during sex.
Results: No real change other than it is a whole lot of extra effort on my part.


Anyway, I feel like I've tried everything and I'm just butting my head against the wall. I love my wife, she's my best friend, and I'd never leave or cheat on her in a million years. But I'm not ready to settle for a passionless mariage. I've suggested changes or even counciling but she doesn't thing anything is wrong on her end. She thinks I just place too much emphasis on sex and that the pressure I put on her is just worsening the situation.

Any advice, tips, or experiences you have that would help would be greatly appreciated!

[HardNgood]

I have to commend you for trying so hard! You are "spot on" with regards to the counselling. It definitely takes two to do this successfully. She may have some hormonal issues? Only her doctor can tell you that. Perhaps you make the first move and try a marriage/sex counsellor/therapist. Ask her to help you with this. She might reconsider counselling if you go first. It's obvious she has some sort of issue. Was she like this before marriage? before the child? I'm of the opinion that a professional is needed here, try going on your own first. Good Luck

[sera300]

As stated you need to get to a professional therapist.

She has no right to tell you how you feel--you place too much emphasis on sex. You are entitled to the way you feel.

Her? Why is she so unwilling to compromise?

Good places to begin.

[Engage!]

Wow. You've tried everything. Congrats on the patience, but counseling is the only option at this point. She'll resist you on that, of course. Perhaps see if you can get a friend to help lure her into counseling? That's how I've had to do it with my wife (different issue, though).

[demonbuttercup]

Dang you HAVE tried everything!!!

It doesn't sound like you are placing TOO much emphasis on sex... but it should at least be existant.
I am somewhat in that same place where my sex drive is no where near my B/Fs, but I do at least try different positions...and I give/receive oral w/ no probs really.

How old is your wife??

I have tried to come to realize that it is about compromise and that I might not always be in the mood....but I try to accomodate him when possible. I sometimes find if I end up "helping" him out...that turns out I am in the mood to play. For me it's just getting the ball rolling that I have trouble w/.... once it's in motion... I am good to go.

I don't know.. like what would she do if ya'll were in bed....watching tv...and you just started masturbating??? Would she lend a hand? or freak out and leave? lol
Like I said above, my b/f has done this... I feel weird at first...but then I'll help him out a little and usually end up having sex. Altho, sometimes I will just help out and that'll be the end of it lol.

[e_room_matt]

In regards to my wife. She's 27. Early in the relationship (college years) we definately had a more active sex life in terms of quantity (3-4 times per week). I graduated a year earlier than her and we had periods were we wouldn't see each other for several weeks. Those were always passionate reunions (don't know if I'd say 'worth the wait' exactly, but good).

I will say one of the things I miss most is that look in her eyes. I haven't seen that excited, 'gonna pounce on you,' look in years.

I wondered if I needed to do something physically to try and get those "college years" back. I'm pretty much your average white guy physically (5'10 170 pounds). This spring I dropped 10 pounds, toned up a little, got a new hairstyle and clothes. Didn't seem to make a difference in the bedroom though.

In regards to the masterbation idea, I haven't tried it. I'll try anything. We're comfortable enough with each other that I think I could try it and she wouldn't leave or anything. More likely she make some coy "are you serious" remark. Might work occasionally but I don't think it would be a consistant solution.

I mentioned that she says "I put too much emphasis on sex," because she probably has some a point somewhere in there. There is some history of compultion in my family and I definately and dependant on sex in this relationship. I'd have sex twice a day with her given the option, and I think she sees me as a a beast that cannot be fed sometimes.

That being said, there is no doubt in my mind she is putting no effort into our sex life. It feels like it is as much to shut me up as anything. But she sure as hell gets some world class service when we do it so its hard to understand her could-care-less attitude.

[sera300]

Additionally she may want to speak to her GYN doc about her loss of libido as well.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Unfortunately for her, men's main mission in life is, in fact, SEX. That is why we have gender at all and do not reproduce by parthenogenesis. We do the pair-bond thing to ensure the survival of the offspring. YOU are doing what you should. SHE is not. BTW her refusing is another way to emphasize sex.

But she is not frigid. What she has is "control issues". She does not like to lose control at all - and she's done a pretty good job at controlling you. I say only pretty good because you're complaining. If her control was absolute, you'd be happy with what you're getting.

Thus far you have tried everything "nice". Counseling may or may not work. By all means give it a try. But in addition to that, or instead - see how you feel, you could take a page from my playbook and give her more sex than she ever dreamed possible. Just say the hell with it, and swing for the bleachers.

Begin with a massage - gentle at first, then increase the pressure until she's soooo relaxed she's like a puddle of mush. Then turn the massage erotic by adding in body worship and keep it up until she's demanding sex. Do not stop at two orgasm. Keep it up until she has rolling orgasms and has flushed red, broken out in a sweat, and bcome a puddle of protoplasm. Do this frequently and see if she doesn't change her mind.

Good luck!

[e_room_matt]

"Then turn the massage erotic by adding in body worship"

This is a new term for me. Can you explain what you mean exactly?

I'm definately thinking I need to find some way to really throw her a curve ball in bed and see if that breaks us out of the mold.

But I'm also not sure where, or how far, to take it. If I'm overly aggressive it might turn her off, or make her all the more passive during sex. I'd like things to get a little more kinky but I've never had any luck breaking her inhibitions.

[Brandye]

The rut you are in is very common. I hate the term frigidity but the psychoanalysts of 100 years ago gave it to us and it is rather descriptive. Many, many couples live most of their lives in this state. Truth be known, neither is ever satisfied - sexually or otherwise. We would all be surprised at how many sexless marriages there are by the mid-30s.

The measurements you have made are all spot on. We women do have a few days of enhanced recepticity around ovulation time. The hormones do that for us but that seems to be the only time she is receptive at all.

The suggestions for counselling are the best advice you can get. Your own efforts are more likely to stiffen her position and it gets worse and worse. There are likely other issues in your marriage as well, even if you two are not aware of them.

If she is willing, go for it and do not make sex the opening issue. The counsellor will get you there.