Member-only story
What If He Had to Choose? The Truth About Men in Sexless Marriages
A Woman’s Perspective.
Sexless marriages exist quietly — hidden beneath busy schedules, unspoken frustrations, and the silent acceptance that perhaps this is just how life is now.
Yet, most men stay.
For years, I believed the common narrative: that men desperately need sex, and without it, they’d inevitably cheat, leave, or suffer miserably. But that’s not what I’ve found.
Instead, hundreds of thoughtful comments from men in response to my earlier article revealed something surprising and profound: men — good, emotionally deep men — remain in marriages where intimacy has dwindled to little more than a quick peck on the cheek or a distracted squeeze of the hand.
“I stay because I still love her. Leaving would feel like abandoning a piece of myself. But some nights, I can’t help wondering if she ever misses me like I miss her.”
— Comment from a reader
Original article that drove this discussion: One Month, No Sex — What It Taught Me About My Marriage
It made me wonder deeply: Why do men stay when intimacy fades? And if given a painful choice, would they prefer a faithful but disengaged spouse — or an intimately active partner who isn’t exclusive?
