Yes, a relationship can survive without sex but only if the individuals involved subscribe to the same belief that they don’t need to prioritize sex for their relationship to grow and thrive and maintain a healthy and happy relationship.
For some people, other than the purpose of reproduction, they don’t see much value in having regular sex as part of their relationship. This allows them to focus on the aspects they deem important and this helps them bond and grow as a couple.
But if the case where one person needs sex more than the other, it creates an imbalance that can be tricky to maintain and this usually leads to sexual frustration. It’s at this point that the relationship might be faced with challenges that might ultimately affect the relationship for example infidelity.
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Can not having sex ruin a relationship?
Not having sex can only ruin a romantic relationship if a person’s sex drive is a lot more than their partner’s. This creates an imbalance that will leave them unsatisfied and this usually leads to sexual frustrations and can ultimately lead to infidelity.
However, not all couples think of sex the same way and they might prefer other methods to help them bond and get closer to each other. For such couples not having sex as part of their relationship works great.
Is a sexless relationship Healthy?
For the most part, no it’s not. Sex is important in a relationship because it helps a couple bond and get closer together. It also satisfies their intimate needs and desires, contributing to their sexual satisfaction and leaving them happier and more fulfilled. Sex also relieves tension and frustration so taking this way from people who need it creates unhappy individuals.
Is sex necessary in a relationship?
Sex is important because it keeps the couple connected, enhances sexual intimacy, relieves tension, and therefore makes for a healthier relationship. A Study By the Society for Personality and Social Psychology on November 18, 2015, revealed that couples who have sex at least once a week are happiest.
Understanding Intimacy
Intimacy serves as a cornerstone for every relationship, being the key that locks physical and emotional closeness. When there is an absence of such intimacy in an intimate relationship, partners inevitably start to feel distant from each other. A relationship can hardly survive, let alone thrive, in such circumstances.
If, for instance, one partner is more intimate than the other, this opens up a Pandora’s box of problems, ranging from resentment to feelings of rejection. In some cases, it’s not simply about the physical act of intimacy but also the emotional connection that spouses crave. Therefore, it’s crucial to seek help from a therapist or counselor to mend any underlying issues before it’s too late.
What is Sexual Intimacy?
Intimacy is more than just physical connection. It involves a level of emotional understanding and connection between two people that can’t be achieved through any other means. Spiritual intimacy, along with emotional and physical intimacy, plays a crucial role in the overall health and satisfaction of a relationship. A knowing glance, a shared joke, a heartfelt conversation – these are all examples of the kind of intimacy that can make a relationship strong and healthy.
But what happens when physical intimacy is lacking? Can a relationship survive and thrive without it? It’s a question that many couples may face at some point, but the good news is that emotional intimacy can more than makeup for any physical gaps. A true connection between two people relies on both emotional and physical intimacy, but one can certainly survive without the other.
Reasons for a sexless relationship?
Can A Relationship Survive Without Sex remains a valid question but maybe focusing on why sex is important can shed some light on the answer.
Relationship counseling can help couples work through emotional connection, address intimacy issues, improve communication, understand each other better, reflect on past experiences, and resolve conflicts to enhance their relationship.
Medical conditions physical or mental.
For some couples, it is not a choice whether or not to have regular sex as part of the relationship. It could be a medical reason that prevents them from having this as part of their relationship, impacting their sexual behavior. For example, it could be a physical or mental condition. Such couples depending on the severity of the condition have to find ways to satisfy each other’s needs and stay connected.
Low sex drive.
Some people simply have a low sex drive and this is what determines the regularity of sexual intercourse and intimacy in their relationship. But it is important to realize that if a couple’s sex drive is matched then there’s no problem for them. The only challenge comes in when one person needs sex more than the other at which point they have to work out a compromise.
Infidelity.
Infidelity is another reason why couples might go without sex in their relationship. When one partner cheats it pulls the couple apart. This distance discourages intimacy because of feelings of resentment and hurt. The couple might go a while without being intimate with each other and even when it happens the connections will not be the same for a while.
No attraction.
It is not uncommon for couples that have been together for a while to lose attraction to one another. This lack of attraction for one another often leads to less and less intimacy in a relationship especially when sex is concerned.
The couple shares the same values.
Some people do not believe sex to be of much importance in a relationship except when it comes to the purpose of reproduction. As such the relationship might go for an extended period without sex and the couple usually focuses on other aspects that they believe will bring them closer.
Mismatched sex drive.
Couples that have a mismatched sex drive usually find it challenging to maintain a level of satisfaction when it comes to sex and intimacy in their romantic relationships. This is because a compromise has to be reached to satisfy both parties. For most couples, this is usually not a problem at the start of the relationship. But as time goes on one person’s needs might be overlooked. This is where problems of infidelity start to happen that might threaten the status of the relationship.
Long-distance relationship.
Long-distance relationships are the common reason for having a sexless relationship. It’s difficult to maintain an active sex life while living miles apart from each other. This creates a challenge in the relationship because it means the couple’s sexual desires and needs and not being met or satisfied. This is one of the challenges long-distance relationships struggle with that ultimately leads to break up.
Poor self-esteem.
Poor self-esteem can also lead to a drop in a couple’s sex drive. If you feel good about yourself as a person it affects your sex drive positively. People who struggle with their body image or emotions are more likely to avoid sex and intimacy because they don’t feel attractive enough. If nothing goes undone for a long time it can seriously affect the level of a couple’s sex life and leave them disconnected.
Abusive relationship.
Abusive relationships discourage sex and intimacy. It is difficult to be attracted to someone who mentally, physically, or emotionally abuses you, which can severely impact intimate relationships. It creates a void between a couple and discourages intimacy. Abusive relationships should never be tolerated and it is important to remove yourself from such a relationship at the earliest opportunity to avoid the long-term effects it might have on you. Women’s Aid is an organization that offers support and help for people in abusive relationships.
Effects of lack of sex in a relationship.
Some couples get closer.
For some couples having less sex allows them to focus more on each other and find other means that connect them as individuals and bring them closer together. Some people see sex as a distraction and would rather concentrate on other means of building their relationship and learning more about their partner.
Infidelity.
Infidelity is one of the common results of having less or no sex In a relationship. If one partner’s needs are not being met or satisfied in the relationship, they might seek satisfaction outside the relationship. This happens when the couple’s sex drive is mismatched and one person requires more than the other is prepared to give.
Breakup or divorce.
Lack of sex in a relationship can lead to break up and divorce. This is because it causes sexual frustration, creates feelings of anger and resentment, and in most cases leads to infidelity in a relationship. It’s worth noting that infidelity is one of the leading causes of broken relationships in society today.
Lack of trust.
Having less sex or expressing less interest in sex and intimacy can suggest that someone’s needs are being satisfied outside the relationship. This leads to an issue of trust which further affects the couple’s relationship.
Poor bond between the couple.
Sex has a way of bringing a couple closer together and strengthening the bond they share. Taking this away leaves a couple disconnected in some way. So it goes without saying that little to no sex in a relationship affects the bond between a couple. It also so reduces their level of intimacy outside just having sex. The couple’s level of attraction towards each other reduces and their needs remain unmet.
Sexual frustration.
Lack of sex in a relationship leads to sexual frustration and this affects people in different ways. Some people develop feelings of anger and mistrust towards their partner while others seek satisfaction outside the relationship. This leads to broken relationships and trust issues.
Emotional affair.
An emotional affair is when someone forms an attachment with another person outside the relationship. They seek advice, understanding, and comfort from this other person. The person often feels more connected to this other person than their partner. This can be caused by many reasons one of which is little or no sex in a relationship. Sex connects a couple intimately and emotionally. When this is removed it creates a gap and the need to fill this gap can force someone to seek a connection outside the relationship.
Conclusion.
For the most part, having regular sex in a relationship is important because it not only satisfies the couple’s needs but also plays a vital role In helping the couple bond. Regular sex is a key ingredient in building a healthy long-lasting relationship. It creates a healthy balance between emotional and physical satisfaction. It is up to a couple to decide the level of sex that works for them and always do their best to keep their relationship and intimacy alive and interesting for one another. Hope you enjoyed reading this article regarding the question of can a relationship survive without sex.
Sincerely Yours.
