I'm head over heels with my guy. We've been together a year & now started talking about marriage. But I can't keep him excited in bed, tho he has plenty of "privet time." I've tried EVERYTHING. He swears he loves/wants me but we haven't had sex in months. I love him but I also love sex. Advice?!
Ooh, that's a tough one. A year is a very short time to be with someone and having a dry spell in the bedroom department that lasts for months. That's a considerable portion of your time together where you're feeling rejected and unhappy and you have needs that aren't being met. It definitely needs addressing with your fella. Your sex life and intimacy level can often reflect how your relationship is progressing, and if it's non-existent, it's worth further investigation.
What I find intriguing is that from what you're saying, he's got no problem meeting his own needs himself in private time? So he has a sex drive of sorts, but only on his own. It could be an intimacy issue he has or some internal worries that are preventing him from being intimate and loving with you. Masturbation, as well as a sexual release, is a way to relax and decompress without any burden of expectation on the part of an outside party, so I wouldn't panic too much about that. What's more important is why you guys aren't talking with each other about something this fundamental. If he's swearing that he loves and wants you, then if he's plainly not wanting to be intimate with you and it's gone on for months, you're well entitled to ask for an explanation or at least get the ball rolling on some proper honest communication.
Normally if there's a sudden lack of interest in sex from a partner, it could be that they're under a lot of stress in other areas of their life. Stress and anxiety are the ultimate passion-killers, so have a think about whether you have noticed any changes in his behaviour in other areas of life. Are there financial concerns? Could he be depressed? Has he worries and fears about the relationship and where it's going that he hasn't spoken about? You guys are only together for a year and are talking about marriage, and that's a big step. Have you guys really, honestly talked about it and what you want from each other in the long run? Sometimes when things move as fast as that, things tend to take on a life of their own and it can be hard to pump the brakes and really take a look at things to make sure you're both on the same page.
Let's tackle the other fear that may be flying around your brain: infidelity. The old "If he's not getting it from me, he's getting it somewhere else" cliché can rear its ugly head, but in this situation, I don't know enough about the relationship to say that it could be a factor. Only your gut instinct and evidence will present that possibility. This would be my 'last resort' suggestion if you haven't gotten any satisfaction (so to speak) with any of the above.
Bottom line: Talk it out. If he's not willing to discuss it, then to me that's a way bigger issue than a lack of sex. No point in talking marriage with someone who won't communicate with you about any problems or concerns they're having. That's far too lonely a state to be in. Talk, listen, and face whatever comes.
Good Luck!
What I find intriguing is that from what you're saying, he's got no problem meeting his own needs himself in private time? So he has a sex drive of sorts, but only on his own. It could be an intimacy issue he has or some internal worries that are preventing him from being intimate and loving with you. Masturbation, as well as a sexual release, is a way to relax and decompress without any burden of expectation on the part of an outside party, so I wouldn't panic too much about that. What's more important is why you guys aren't talking with each other about something this fundamental. If he's swearing that he loves and wants you, then if he's plainly not wanting to be intimate with you and it's gone on for months, you're well entitled to ask for an explanation or at least get the ball rolling on some proper honest communication.
Normally if there's a sudden lack of interest in sex from a partner, it could be that they're under a lot of stress in other areas of their life. Stress and anxiety are the ultimate passion-killers, so have a think about whether you have noticed any changes in his behaviour in other areas of life. Are there financial concerns? Could he be depressed? Has he worries and fears about the relationship and where it's going that he hasn't spoken about? You guys are only together for a year and are talking about marriage, and that's a big step. Have you guys really, honestly talked about it and what you want from each other in the long run? Sometimes when things move as fast as that, things tend to take on a life of their own and it can be hard to pump the brakes and really take a look at things to make sure you're both on the same page.
Let's tackle the other fear that may be flying around your brain: infidelity. The old "If he's not getting it from me, he's getting it somewhere else" cliché can rear its ugly head, but in this situation, I don't know enough about the relationship to say that it could be a factor. Only your gut instinct and evidence will present that possibility. This would be my 'last resort' suggestion if you haven't gotten any satisfaction (so to speak) with any of the above.
Bottom line: Talk it out. If he's not willing to discuss it, then to me that's a way bigger issue than a lack of sex. No point in talking marriage with someone who won't communicate with you about any problems or concerns they're having. That's far too lonely a state to be in. Talk, listen, and face whatever comes.
Good Luck!