Guest post by Juliana Murray
A marriage without intimacy is commonly termed a sexless marriage. But I am sure the question prevails in your mind “Is sex a necessity in a marriage or a relationship?” Well, I’m here to help you clear all your doubts. Well, philosophically speaking, there can be no barriers if there is enough love between two partners. However, physical intimacy is essential to keep a marriage intact and in good shape. It is not only about sex, but the bond, the contact, and the personal touch that you have are what matters. Here in this article, we will discuss the various aspects of marriage without intimacy and how long it can last.
What Might Be The Reason Behind Not Having an Intimate Relationship?
1. Lower Sex Drive
Having lesser sexual desires can be the main reason for marriage without intimacy. The matter might be that either or both of the partners have fewer urges that do not stimulate their sex drive. There is no specific reason behind this. We are only human beings, and everyone is different from one another. It depends upon the characteristic of the person if they are asexual or have a wrong perception about sex.
2. Health Factors
Health factors such as cancer, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and so on can be major factors in the course of maintaining intimacy in a relationship. These conditions lead to lower libido or sexual desires due to the physical inability of the person and cause the person to lose interest in participating in sex.
3. Other Life Events
Human beings are always occupied with events in their lives. Some of these activities or incidents might lead them to feel unlikely of involving in sex with their partners. Having unmanageable or long work schedules might be a huge constraint for not having an intimate relationship. Others might include changes in physical appearance, falling out of love, porn addiction, having and raising a baby, and much more.
How Long Can a Marriage Last Without Intimacy?
Marriages without any intimacy are not a very happy kind of female led relationship. It has been reported that partners who do not have at least some intimacy in their married life often end up suffering from misery and depression. This leads them to ultimately end the relationship and move ahead in life.
However, it has also been witnessed that some couples are absolutely fine with a sexless marriage while others get frustrated and try to put an end to the relationship as soon as possible. The marriage can last a lifetime if both partners are not at all bothered about indulging in any sexual activity. However, even if one of both has a higher expectation of intimacy, it can lead to a difficult situation.
How Can Such a Relationship Affect You?
1. Affects Mental Intimacy
Being physically attracted to each other is a very generic part of a romantic relationship like marriage. That is what differentiates it from any other relationship. When two partners indulge in sexual activities, it boosts their emotional intimacy as well. Being in a sexless marriage reduces mental attachment between the husband and the wife.
2. Causes Other Temptations
When one of the partners is interested in indulging in sex while the other doesn’t, it can create a huge barrier in the relationship. It might lead to the interested one feeling lonely and depressed of not getting their expectations fulfilled. This can often lead to that person getting involved in extramarital affairs or other filthy activities.
3. Causes Trust Issues
The building of trust between two partners majorly develops after having sex. After having a physical moment, the release of a hormone known as oxytocin is believed to build trust between a couple. However, marriages without intimacy lack this trust, and this leads to several marriage problems.
Final Thoughts
I am sure you could make out some opinion of your own after going through this article. How long can a marriage last without intimacy completely depends on the two people involved in the relationship. If their compatibility and the mutual connection are good enough, then the marriage can keep going forever.
Author Bio: Juliana Murray is the writer behind TheDatingDairy, a blog solely focused on dating guides, tips and advice.