Can guys be raped, too?
Yes. Often, people hear the words “rape” or “sexual assault” and automatically figure the victim is female. This…
Read FAQ »It’s nice that you want to spare your partner’s feelings, but your feelings also matter in this situation. People have a right to set boundaries in their relationships and to have those boundaries respected. Being straightforward and honest about those boundaries is an example of healthy communication.
Let your partner know that you don’t want to embarrass or hurt them and you just want to open up the lines of communication regarding a boundary that you have. Remember that you can’t control your partner’s reaction, but your boundaries are still important and should be respected. Explain to your partner why you feel that having sex isn’t the best option for you. A partner who cares about and respects you won’t pressure you to have sex before you’re ready.
When talking about sexual boundaries with your partner, be honest and straightforward before things get sexual. Find a time to talk privately, preferably when you’re not in a sexual situation. Know what you want to say before you sit down to talk. You could start by telling your partner how you feel about your relationship. Discuss the things you like about your partner and the time you spend together. This will help your partner know that your decision to say no to certain sexual behaviors isn’t a rejection; it’s an important personal choice that you’re choosing to communicate.
Then explain why you don’t want to do certain sexual things. Share your feelings so your partner understands why those sexual behaviors aren’t right for you right now. Know your sexual boundaries and communicate them clearly. Is kissing OK, but touching isn’t? Should clothes stay on? If so, which ones? What can your partner expect if you change your mind? It might help to let your partner know that it is OK for them to say no to you as well.
As far as your relationship goes, not having sex doesn’t mean you want to end the relationship. Be clear about this if you want to stay in the relationship. If you two are together because you really like and care for each other, then letting your partner know how you feel may help to bring you closer. There are many ways to feel close to a partner besides having sex, and they’re not all physical. This could be a great time to talk about what you are comfortable doing, which could also help you feel closer to your partner. And if you can’t find a happy medium with your partner when it comes to sex — something you can both agree on and makes you both happy – it’s OK to end the relationship. It doesn’t mean it will be easy to break up, but sexual incompatibility is a perfectly acceptable reason for ending a relationship – whether you are the one who wants more or the one who wants less.
An important part of being sexually healthy is knowing what your values and limits are when it comes to all kinds of sexual behavior. Values are the important things that matter to you and limits refer to how far you want a relationship or sexual situation to go. Once you know your values and limits, share them with your partner as part of a healthy relationship. People say no to a lot of things in relationships, not just sexual things. For example, you may not want to go to parties where there’s alcohol, or you may only want to hang out socially on the weekends. These are boundaries too, just as sexual boundaries are boundaries.