I’ve faked every one of my orgasms over the past four years
The dilemma My boyfriend and I have been dating for four years and I have faked my orgasm each time we’ve had sex. We met at university when I had a distorted view of what sex should be like. I was in a wild period of my life and I slept with a lot of different guys. Faking it was a way of ending the sex when I wasn’t enjoying it any more – and I thought it was the easiest way to communicate that I was done.
But since I faked it with him the first time, I thought I had to fake it the second time, and so on. The longerit’s gone on, the harder it has become to tell him, because I am afraid of losing him. He is very thoughtful and patient. If I had told him earlier we could’ve moved past it, but Iwas too afraid. The worst thing is that our relationship is amazing. We have a mutual sense of trust and respect. I don’t want to ruin it, but I feel like I already have. I know now that the goal of sex is enjoyment,but my guilt is starting to take over my thoughts and I don’t know what to do. The truth would hurt him and probably knock his whole sense of trust and self-worth. There has to be another way to fix this, right?
Mariella repliesRight! You must be exhausted. That’s a long time to be putting on a performance. I’d like to know why you came up with orgasm dodging as a way of “managing” your sex life in the first place. When you’re not in it for love or increased intimacy, an orgasm seems a rudimentary prize for the effort involved. Casual sex for you seems to have been relegated to a transactional activity without much of a dividend. That’s why I’m puzzled that you’ve continued the approach into a long-term relationship. Perhaps you entered this union with little expectation of longevity? That may even be the crux of your problem – a physical manifestation of an emotional block to exposure and vulnerability.
My suspicion is that making such a choice originally was about more than simply indicating that the fun was over. Pursuing an active sex life with a longterm partner, while forgoing climax, suggests a desire to keep your feelings under wraps. What you have been cheating your boyfriend of isn’t simply the pleasure of knowing that he’s fulfilling his share of the sexual deal, but also real access to you. I’m always surprised when people tell me they have regular sex without achieving orgasm. It’s a confession that often comes handin-hand with the revelation that their sex life is a challenge. It seems hardly surprising that, having removed the climactic moment, the process loses some of its allure, but maybe I’m just selfish! Of course, sex is more than simply about satisfaction and many people enjoy the intimacy involved in foreplay and acts of physical closeness as much as (if not more than) the orgasm itself. Nevertheless, having intercourse without ever experiencing physical release must be like being a cook who can’t taste food.
You don’t make clear whether it’s an impossibility for you or you just don’t invest the effort in pursuing your own satisfaction. I’m not a sex therapist, but if it’s the former, you need to look for further practical advice and insights from a professional (contact brook.org.uk, 0800 0185 023 for help and advice). Can you have an orgasm on your own? Most women are able to climax, although if you’re taking anti-depressants it can be a problematic side-effect.
This is a big thing to keep from your boyfriend and it’s a deception that can’t continue. Having an orgasm may not be a priority for you, but honesty in your relationship has to be. There is clearly something not working. The more I think about your dilemma the more questions I have, which makes it difficult to offer advice. In such a position of ignorance, the best I can do is confirm that maintaining the current status quo is not an option.
As with all relationship issues, the first place to look for answers is within. We can’t change anything beyond our boundaries unless we first learn how to transform ourselves. Think seriously about how much this physical problem could be representative of some longstanding emotional issue. Why don’t you want to let go?
Involving your boyfriend in pursuit of your elusive climax may eventually be the right route, but first I’d set about trying to change the dynamic in your relationship. It’s up to you to work out what would provoke change, physically, of course, but especially emotionally. Immersing yourself in a more sensual world is an option.
If your ambition is now to make this relationship work for the long haul, all cards need to be on the table, and that means if it’s not something you can resolve alone, he’ll need to be part of the equation. Whatever way you approach it, the biggest issue here is that you seem untethered from your own desires and nervous about achieving fulfilment more generally in your life. That’s where I’d start looking for answers.
If you have a dilemma, send a brief e m a i l t o mariella.frostrup@observer.co.uk. Follow her on Twitter @mariellaf1
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