Today we're talking about something couples rarely discuss: when a husband's interest in sex drops after he stops using porn.
For wives, this can feel very confusing and hurtful. After working hard to heal the relationship, it's painful when intimacy doesn't return as expected. She might wonder, "Doesn't he find me attractive? Is he really getting better?"
But lower sexual desire after recovery isn't always a bad sign. It's often part of a necessary reset in understanding healthy intimacy.
The drive for sex that was powered by fantasy starts to quiet down, creating space for real connection to grow.
Today I'll share five reasons why desire decreases during recovery and how couples can build a fulfilling sex life based on both people's needs, emotional safety, and genuine connection.
For therapy with Sam:
I will work with you for 12 weeks to help you eliminate pornography use and resolve the root cause so it doesn't come back.
If after the 12 weeks you haven’t fully overcome it, I’ll work with you for free until you do.
Click here for info to work with me directly.
Have questions you want me to address on future podcast episodes?
Email me here:
sam@healingcouples.org
Get access to my trust building workshop:
Want access to a free course I created for my podcast listeners?
Click the Couples Healing website and in the course you'll learn some top strategies to find healing from addiction and trauma, rebuild trust, experience freedom, and begin to reconnect with each other in the relationship.
Follow Me on Instagram for daily tips and tools you can implement to overcome pornography addiction.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!