{"id":20654,"date":"2021-12-21T14:26:15","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T13:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=20654"},"modified":"2022-01-03T10:09:09","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T09:09:09","slug":"navigating-sexual-partners-with-different-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/navigating-sexual-partners-with-different-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Sexual Partners with Different Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Humans are unique. That uniqueness makes the world go round. <\/span>It also carries over to all different areas of our lives. Including your sex life. <\/span>You and your sexual and\/or romantic partner may be finding that your sexual needs vary, or even seem incompatible at times.\u00a0 <\/span>This might mean having different libidos, interests, kinks, turn-ons, or anything else that has to do with your sex life. <\/span>So what do you do when these things don\u2019t seem to be matching up? <\/span>We\u2019re here to help you find common ground, and plenty of mutual pleasure in your sex life, and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Different Libidos<\/b><\/p>\n

Libido, aka your sex drive, is what keeps you coming back for more. <\/span>There\u2019s plenty of things that can affect your <\/span>libido<\/span><\/a> like your menstrual cycle, stress, medications, your health, sleep, birth control, mental health, and more. <\/span>For people in heterosexual relationships, people typically think of cis-men having a higher sex drive than cis-women. That\u2019s not the case for everyone. <\/span>If you have more or less of a sex drive than your partner, you\u2019re not weird. You\u2019re human.\u00a0 <\/span>If you feel like your low sex drive is a result of some physical or emotional imbalance, you may want to try a <\/span>natural libido enhancer<\/span><\/a> or go see a specialist. More on that later!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different Turn Ons<\/b><\/p>\n

Another area where you might be finding a mismatch in your sex life is your interests. <\/span>By interests, we mean turn-ons, turn-offs, preferences, and <\/span>kinks<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Again, this is entirely normal. Most people don\u2019t have all of the same interests, so why would it be any different in your sex life. <\/span>You might be into getting choked, while your partner feels squeamish about it. Your partner might get off on the idea of being watched, while you like total privacy. One of you wants a threesome, while the other wants to keep it just the two of you. <\/span>You get the idea!<\/span><\/p>\n

The Power of Communication and Compromise<\/b><\/p>\n

Oftentimes when there are mismatched expectations in a relationship, resentment starts to build. Or just feeling like you\u2019re not on the same page. <\/span>Much of this resentment comes from a lack of communication. Communication can be verbal and non-verbal, but talking about sex with your partner is critical for growing together and learning how to navigate having different needs.\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s no way for your partner to know for sure that you\u2019re feeling resentment unless you tell them. There\u2019s an art when it comes to learning to <\/span>ask for what you want during sex<\/span><\/a>. This kind of talk can be sexy and a form of foreplay. It\u2019s important to have a partner that you can trust with disclosing these desires and on the other hand \u2013 giving your partner the same grace by asking them what they want.\u00a0<\/span>Knowing what you want is just as important as knowing what you don\u2019t want. Even then, your needs can change, and you may be surprised by being into something that you didn\u2019t think you would be. <\/span>There\u2019s a difference between compromise and coercion. It\u2019s ok to try something sexually that you aren\u2019t exactly jazzed about, but if you\u2019re being forced or coerced into it \u2013\u00a0that\u2019s a form of abuse and should be addressed separately.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it\u2019s Affecting Your Relationship<\/b><\/p>\n

For the majority of couples, sex is a major part of their relationship.\u00a0 <\/span>When that is compromised, or there\u2019s a dissonance in it, it can cause a rift in your relationship. <\/span>Sometimes communicating on your own doesn\u2019t cut it and you need to call on an expert for some extra support.\u00a0 <\/span>Luckily there\u2019s plenty of people who are dedicated to helping couples overcome these issues.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n