Sexual activity is a natural part of many people’s lives, but there are times when some women may not engage in it for a while. It can happen for many reasons, like personal choice, health issues, or life circumstances.
When a woman has not made love for a long time, there might be some signs that show this. It’s important to remember that these signs are not definite and can vary from person to person.
Here are 19 signs that might indicate a woman has not been sexually active for a while.
1. Decreased Intimacy in Relationships
When a woman hasn’t been intimate for a while, it can affect her relationships. She might feel less close to her partner or have trouble connecting on an emotional level. This can lead to feelings of distance or misunderstandings, which can strain the relationship.
Not having sex for a long time can also make a woman more self-conscious about her body. She might worry about how she looks or feels during intimacy. Self-consciousness can affect a person’s ability to relax and enjoy sexual activity.
2. Hormonal Imbalance
Sexual activity influences the production and regulation of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These hormones play important roles in maintaining libido, mood, and overall well-being.
Lack of sexual activity can cause a decrease in these hormones, leading to symptoms like low libido, mood swings, and etc.
3. Lowered Libido
Libido is another word for sex drive. It is the desire or interest in sexual activity. Many factors can influence libido, including hormones, stress levels, and overall health. When a woman hasn’t been intimate for a long time, her desire for sex might decrease.
It can happen because her body gets used to not having sex, and the brain may not signal the need for sexual activity as frequently.
4. Physical Discomfort During Sex
If a woman hasn’t had sex for a while, her body might not be used to it anymore. Therefore, it can make sex uncomfortable or even painful. Lack of lubrication is a common reason for this discomfort.
As you can imagine, her body produces less natural lubrication when it is not regularly engaged in sexual activity.
5. Low Self-Esteem
Regular intimacy can boost self-esteem and make a person feel good about themselves. A prolonged period without sex can affect a woman’s self-esteem, which can affect how she sees herself and her worth, impacting various aspects of her life.
She might feel less attractive or desirable, thus leading to a decrease in confidence in social and romantic situations. It can show in self-critical thoughts, negative body image, or comparing herself unfavorably to others.
She might avoid taking photos of herself or shy away from group photos due to her discomfort with her appearance and a lack of confidence in her attractiveness.
6. Increased Clinginess
Imagine spending time with a woman who seems to be more emotionally dependent than usual. She might seek constant reassurance and attention from those around her.
For example, she may frequently ask questions like, “Do you still care about me?” or “Am I still attractive?”
These questions reflect her need for reassurance and validation. The lack of sexual intimacy can make her feel insecure, leading to a heightened need for emotional support.
Emotional dependency can manifest in various ways, such as frequent calls or messages to friends, needing validation, or seeking comfort in others’ presence. She might call her friends frequently to talk about her feelings or seek their advice on personal matters.
7. Increased Anxiety and Difficulty Relaxing
Sex can help reduce stress by releasing relaxing hormones like oxytocin, cortisol and endorphins. Without regular sex, a woman might feel more stressed or anxious.
So she might feel more on edge, worried, or overwhelmed by everyday situations like work, relationships, or personal matters more than usual. As a result, she might have difficulty relaxing or unwinding, feeling constantly tense or anxious.
8. Avoidance of Sexual Topics
She might avoid conversations about sex or display discomfort when such topics arise. When sexual topics come up, she might quickly change the subject or lead the conversation in a different direction.
Such behavior indicates her discomfort and reluctance to engage in discussions about intimacy. It can also reflect her desire to avoid reminders of her lack of sexual activity to protect herself from feelings of inadequacy or embarrassment.
9. Decreased Interest in Dating
Some women who have not been sexually active for a long time may flirt with others, while some women might lose interest in dating or romantic pursuits. She might feel disconnected from her sexual desires and thus avoid intimate situations.
As a result, she lacks the motivation to pursue romantic relationships. You’ll see she might decline dates, avoid social events, or not engage with potential partners.
10. Increased Focus on Career or Hobbies
She might throw herself into her work or hobbies to seek fulfillment and satisfaction. It can be a coping mechanism to fill the void left by the absence of a sexual relationship.
She might work longer hours, take on additional projects, or immerse herself in her hobbies. For example, she might stay late at the office or spend weekends working on personal projects.
11. Passive Behavior in Relationships
She might become more passive in her relationships, avoiding taking the initiative or expressing her desires. It can be a sign of her feeling disconnected from her sexual self and unsure of how to engage in intimate situations.
For example, she might not initiate conversations or physical contact with her partner and wait for others to make the first move. The main reason is her fear of rejection or judgment.
12. Feeling Insecure in Relationships
Not having sex for a long time can make a woman feel insecure in her relationship. She might worry that her partner is not attracted to her anymore or that something is wrong with their relationship. These feelings of insecurity can affect the emotional connection between partners.
13. Changes in Appearance
To regain confidence and feel more attractive, she might make noticeable changes to her appearance, such as a new hairstyle or wardrobe. She might also experiment with different makeup styles or beauty routines.
Changing her appearance can provide a boost to her self-esteem and help her feel more desirable.
14. Hypersensitivity
Nervous to Touch
Some women might feel nervous or hesitant when it comes to physical touch if they haven’t been intimate for a long time. It can be because they are not used to it anymore, or they might feel unsure about their body.
Her hypersensitivity can also lead to discomfort or awkwardness in situations involving physical closeness.
Emotional Sensitivity
She might also display heightened emotional sensitivity. She might have mood swings, becoming irritable, sad, or frustrated more easily. Meanwhile, she will be more affected by others’ words and actions and might cry more easily.
For instance, she might tear up during a sad movie scene or become upset over minor disagreements. The lack of sex can amplify her emotional needs and responses.
Taking Things Personally
She might take things more personally and react strongly to perceived slights or dismissals because of her insecurity and fear of being unwanted or unloved. For example, she might become upset if someone cancels plans or doesn’t respond to her messages promptly.
15. Increased Social Media Activity
Some women might become more active on social media, posting more selfies or engaging more with others online. Through this, she seeks validation and attention in the absence of physical intimacy. Posting photos and receiving likes or comments can provide a temporary boost to her self-esteem.
16. Withdrawal from Social Activities
She might withdraw from social activities or become less engaged in social settings as she might feel out of place or uncomfortable in social situations.
Therefore, she might decline invitations, avoid gatherings, or isolate herself from others. So she might prefer to stay home instead of going out with friends or avoid attending parties.
17. Physical Discomfort and Sleep Difficulties
She might also experience physical discomfort or tension due to the lack of sexual activity, which might make her trouble sleeping at night.
It is because the loss of intimacy can affect her ability to relax and unwind, leading to difficulties falling or staying asleep. This can further contribute to her physical and emotional discomfort.
18. Being Overly Friendly
Some women might become overly friendly or engaging in attention-seeking behavior, like flirting more than usual, being overly talkative, or making an extra effort to be noticed in social settings. These actions are often driven by a desire to feel wanted and appreciated.
For instance, she might laugh louder at jokes, touch people more frequently, or initiate conversations with strangers more often than before.
19. Overly Pleasing Behavior
To compensate for the lack of intimacy and emotional fulfillment, she may go out of her way to please others to seek approval and validation. And to make others happy, she might prioritize others’ needs over her own, neglecting her own well-being in the process.
For example, she might take on extra responsibilities or avoid saying no to requests even when she is already busy.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to remember that these signs are not definite and can vary from person to person.
Not having sex for a long time is not a bad thing, and many people choose to abstain for various reasons.
Open communication with a partner can help address any concerns or feelings of insecurity. If a woman is experiencing physical discomfort or emotional distress, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor or therapist. Everyone’s sexual health and well-being are unique, and it’s important to find what works best for each individual.