Let's talk about sex: a critical narrative analysis of heterosexual couples' accounts of low sexual desire

Background/Aims: Low desire for sex is common in the lives of women and causes distress where there is desire discrepancy in a relationship. Very little research, however, has investigated low sexual desire in the context of couple relationships. Aims of this research were to explore couples' narratives of low sexual desire and to connect these findings to therapeutic practice.

Methodology: Eight narratives were gathered individually from the members of four heterosexual couples in which the woman was experiencing low sexual desire. Narratives were analysed using critical narrative analysis.

Results: Six main themes arose from the narratives, including shared experiences of blame and problematic communication patterns. Entitlement, doubt, and conflation of love and sex emerged as men-only themes, while anxiety over abnormality and seeking causes of low sexual desire were prevalent for women. Identity-focused analysis of the narratives showed the men adopting a role of victim, with the women occupying a role of self-sacrifice. Applying a feminist critique highlighted pathologisation of normal sexual variation, and the dominance of male-centred views about sexuality.

Implications: The results underlined the importance of a systemic approach, normalisation of experience, and the importance of arriving at a shared narrative of low sexual desire.