Is a sexless relationship healthy?
Here are all the answers you’re looking for, straight from sex and marriage therapists.
What is a sexless relationship?
A sexless relationship is a relationship where there’s little to no sexual activity occurring between the couple.
But it’s very dependent on the individuals.
“It’s a bit arbitrary,” Zimmerman tells mbg.
Sexless relationship statistics.
What causes sexless relationships.
For example, believing that sex should always be spontaneous," Marin adds.
Effects of a sexless relationship.
A sexless relationship will not necessarily harm the overall health of the relationship.
“If both people are happy without sex (or infrequent sex), there is no problem.
Yes, sexless relationships can absolutely be healthy.
“Some people are perfectly happy without sex, so there is no problem.
Can a relationship survive without intimacy?
A relationship can survive without intimacy, and so can sexless relationships.
But a relationship without intimacy is not exactly the same as a relationship without sex.
“These relationships can survive; however, partners might look more like roommates than lovers.
There is one caveat where marriages without passion survive and thrive.
Relationships where friendship and commitment are the base of connection survive and thrive when passion is absent.”
Should you stay in a sexless relationship?
Whether you should stay in a sexless relationship depends on how important sex is to you personally.
“People who value sex also can stay in a sexless relationship and be happy,” Brown-James says.
How to deal with a sexless relationship.
Below are five more tips from Zimmerman, in her exact words:
Talk about it.
That has to come through in the conversations.
And you have to keep the topic on the table, not just bring it up once a year.
Uncover the obstacles.
What’s gotten in the way of sex?
you gotta identify what’s in the way and work together to change those aspects.
Develop a new paradigm.
Challenge expectations about sex.
Learn how it works.
Redefine it so it’s not attached to particular acts or outcomes.
Create more flexibility around how you could share sexuality.
Approach sex as a “playground” without attachment to an outcome.
Let’s get started and see what happens.
Prioritize it.
Schedule opportunitiesfor this playground, this “maybe.”
How important is sex in a relationship?
How important sex is in a relationship will vary based on the couple and the individuals in it.
“It’s so dependent on the couple!”
“For some couples, having sex once a year feels totally healthy.
For other couples, having sex less than once a day doesn’t feel healthy!
