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Question

How do I talk to my boyfriend about bedroom issues without offending him or making him feel inadequate?

Submitted: 120 days and 2 hours ago.
Category: Mental Health
Value: $23
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Gender: Female
Age: 40

Already Tried:
Looking up info online, expressing what works to my boyfriend..

Posted by Tamara 120 days and 1 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi there. Could you give me a little more information about what you mean? Not to get overly personal, but are talking about wanting to help him pleasure you better? What has been his response when you have tried to talk with him in the past?

120 days and 1 hours ago.

Reply

Hi Tamara,

Thanks for your response. This is a new relationship, we've been together nearly 4 months, been intimate for 2 1/2. This is personal, but I really want to sort it out as I am becoming more emotionally involved with this man. Basically, I have never been able to achieve orgasm through intercourse alone and in the past have had to "help myself along" with previous boyfriends. In this new relationship, he is very much focused on intercourse and there is practically no foreplay. I have explained that I need more than penetration and have even reached the point where I have helped myself (making sure that he's ok with it first) - he said he was, but often pushes my hand away from myself (hope I'm not being too direct here!). I have climaxed once since we started having sex 2 1/2 months ago (and that event was only 2 nights ago)... I have asked him to slow down, have suggested different positions and if he asks would I like him to do X or Y I've said Yes..but then he doesn't do it. Certain positions for me enable me to be pleasured more easily but for him they result in him finishing quite quickly, and then that's it! I am becoming increasingly frustrated, upset and even resentful and I feel if I don't get this sorted, it will end the relationship. I want to be more direct with him and say that it's not working for me and I need more attention, as most of his efforts seem to go into his own pleasure, but at the same time want to be diplomatic and not be hurtful or make him feel "diminished"in any way.

Posted by Tamara 120 days ago.

Answer

Hi again. Thanks for your clarification. I know this isn't easy to talk about. Sex is certainly an area where it is easy for people to feel inadequate, so I appreciate your concern about not wanting to hurt his feelings.

I think there are several areas that could be addressed here. First of all, (and I think you already know this) men and women are very different sexually, and women typically need more stimulation than men. There are some men, unfortunately, who interpret this as an inadequacy on their part instead of as a physical reality. So part of your conversation with him needs to be about this fact. It's very important to try to address this a male/female issue - not an issue with him.

It sounds like it might also be necessary to talk with him about how it is important for you to climax too, and that if that doesn't happen through intercourse, you would like to be able to continue your sexual interaction until you climax also. Hopefully this could open a conversation about how this could happen for you, even after he has climaxed. Again, it is not abnormal for him to climax first. The frustration on your part is that he then thinks things are done! This may be a simple education issue for him. Maybe he doesn't know this. If his previous partners weren't honest with him about their needs, he may truly think you're OK. Bottom line - things aren't finished when he is. But it's up to you to let him know that!

And finally, there is nothing wrong with you masturbating while you are having sex, or by yourself. In fact, the more you do so, the easier it will be for you to reach climax with your partner. Masturbation should be an OK act during sex if it is something that is pleasurable to you. My guess would be he pushed your hand away because he was stimulated...? If not, he again might need you to explain to him how this helps you feel pleasured.

Try to talk with him about this at a time when you are not having sex, or just after or before having sex. Bring it up at a totally separate time and see if you can have some success having a discussion about what your needs are, what his needs are, and how to work this out together. There is no reason to not be able to do so. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Good luck! Tamara

120 days ago.

Reply

Thanks for your reply Tamara. Just one more thing if that's ok.... I get the feeling he doesn't particularly like touching me intimately and I even worked up the courage to ask him if this were the case. He said he did like it but didn't sound convincing, and doesn't do it often or for very long - I wouldn't want him doing something he doesn't like, but I certainly do like it... I get the impression he may feel that because I am more stimulated this way than through penetration, he is somehow lacking... how might I address this with him again without sounding like I'm trying to educate him! ?

Thanks!

Accepted Answer

Hi again. My guess would be that your impression is probably right. He may very well interpret that as an inadequacy on his part. Some men just don't understand the differences in the female anatomy and it is all too easy to believe that penetration should be sufficient. I don't think there is anything wrong with you educating on these subjects, as long as you do it in a manner that isn't demeaning and at a time that isn't related to having sex with him. This is a difficult subject to address, but it can be a very bonding experience also. Don't be afraid to tell him what your needs are, and encourage him to do the same! If you can reassure him that it's not him, hopefully he will be able to respond positively and the two of you can enjoy an expanding sexual relationship together. Good luck. Tamara

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Expert: Tamara
Pos. Feedback: 99.5 %
Accepts: 577
Answered: 11/19/2009

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20+ yrs Private Practice; Cert. Master Therapist; National Board Certified; APA Board Certified

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