A sex therapist shares 4 things women should never do to their partners

In any healthy relationship, maintaining open communication and mutual respect is key to a great sex life. However, some actions or words may unintentionally cause pain to your partner. Vanessa Marin, a sex therapist, shared four things not to do with your partner.

Taking to Instagram, the sex therapist, who claims to have worked with thousands of couples in the field of sex therapy for two decades, shared her thoughts in a video about behaviors to avoid in relationships. She emphasized how couples should work together to create a relationship that feels more supportive and compassionate.

(Also read: Rekindling the Spark: Tips for Couples to Maintain a Healthy Sex Life in Stressful Times)

In the video, she mentioned four things you shouldn’t do with your partners. Here’s what she said:

1. Don’t make him take all the initiative

Men are often expected to take the lead in intimacy, but this can be exhausting for a partner. The therapist advised women to take the initiative during intimacy, and not force their partner to do everything proactively just because he is a man.

2. Make him feel bad for not being in the mood

It is natural that one of the partners is sometimes not in the mood. The therapist stressed the importance of being understanding and supportive at such times, rather than making their partners feel bad about it.

3. Keep silent about your needs

Many women refrain from expressing their needs during intimacy, often for fear of hurting their partner’s feelings or seeming demanding. The therapist encouraged women to openly express their desires and preferences.

4. Do not maintain it during performance problems

Performance problems, such as difficulty with arousal or anxiety, can happen to anyone. A sex therapist advised women not to do it for themselves (cry, sulk, say, “You shouldn’t be attracted to me”) when their partner has performance issues.

The sex therapist also stressed the need to discuss new boundaries and expectations with your partner in a patient, respectful and intentional way and advised taking it slow without expecting changes overnight.