Have you ever seen a successful relationship when the sex was difficult from the start? Or even stopped early in the relationship? I have been with my boyfriend since August and I honestly lost my desire for him early on. Heโ€™s a bit of a hoarder and has some self-care and cleanliness issues, which I only realized some way into the relationship. It has killed the sexual vibe for me very early, but I do feel very safe with him, very connected emotionally. Is there hope? Or should we call it friends?

Only Doomed Or Real Shot?

Iโ€™ve definitely seen relationships succeed despite sex being difficult at the start โ€” absolutely, for sure, lots of times.

In some cases, the couple broke up, found new partners, and remained in each otherโ€™s lives as friends. But most of the couples that succeeded in the way you most likely meant โ€” the sex was difficult at the start but theyโ€™re still happily together years later โ€” had at some point redefined their relationships as companionate. Some of these companionate relationships were ethically non-monogamous, e.g., one or both partners were allowed to seek sex outside the relationship, but some were strictly monogamous. What I havenโ€™t seen many examples of over the years are two people who didnโ€™t share a strong sexual connection at the start who somehow managed to create one. And when I have seen that happen, ODORS, there was always some shared sexual interest or erotic dynamic or off-the-rack kink the two shared โ€” there was one thing that worked โ€” and on that rock built a good-to-great sex life together.

But what I found myself wondering as I read your question, ODORS, was why you would wanna make things work with this guy. If he canโ€™t be bothered to bathe and brush his teeth and use deodorant when heโ€™s trying to win you, ODORS, heโ€™s not going to make the effort after heโ€™s won you. Maybe there’s some underlying mental health issue heโ€™s struggling with. If so, ODORS, you can offer him your friendship and moral support โ€” provided you can spare the emotional bandwidth โ€” but donโ€™t offer him a blowjob. Sucking this guyโ€™s dick would not only be unpleasant for you, ODORS, but it would send the wrong message to him, e.g., that heโ€™s in good enough working order (the proof: heโ€™s getting his dick sucked) and doesnโ€™t need to get help and make changes.

P.S. The sexless monogamous relationship โ€” as a concept โ€” has aways broken my brain. If being sexually monogamous means you donโ€™t have sex with other peopleโ€ฆ wouldnโ€™t being monogamously sexless mean you only donโ€™t have sex with other people? If monogamy means, โ€œIโ€™m not fucking anybody but you,โ€ wouldn’t sexless monogamy mean, โ€œIโ€™m fucking everybody but youโ€? Perhaps someone who doesnโ€™t wanna have sex with their partner but insists that their partner not have sex with anyone else โ€” perhaps someone who thinks celibacy is a reasonable demand โ€” can jump into the comments thread and explain where they get off.

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In addition to being a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist, the author of several books, and the host of the Savage Lovecast, Savage is “a deviant of the highest order” (Daily Caller)....