Sexual consent, even after 20 years of married life

Did you really have consent last time?

Sexual consent is a crucial topic in all sexual relationships, but it is often underestimated in long-term relationships. In these relationships, it’s easy to fall into routine and forget the importance of asking for and giving clear and enthusiastic consent. In this article, we will explore the importance of sexual consent in long-term couples and how it can be practiced in a healthy and respectful way.

First of all, it is important to remember that sexual consent is an essential part of a healthy and consensual sexual relationship. Consent involves clear and ongoing communication between partners, to ensure that all parties are comfortable and okay with sexual activity. It must be freely given, without coercion, manipulation or intimidation.

In long-term relationships, it’s easy to fall into a sexual routine that can make it difficult to communicate consent. Couples may have implicit expectations about what is acceptable and what is not, and may not be clear about their needs and wants. However, it is important to remember that sexual consent should never be presumed, even in a long-term relationship.

To practice sexual consent in a long-term relationship, it is important to continue to communicate openly and honestly with your partner. Both parties should be encouraged to clearly articulate their limitations, needs, and desires. This can be done through regular conversations about sex and intimacy, as well as the practice of verifying consent before any sexual activity.

Verification of consent involves making sure that all parties are comfortable and in agreement before pursuing sexual activity. This can be done through words, gestures, or nonverbal cues, such as verbally asked if the other person is comfortable or not, or checking for body cues such as breathing or muscle tension.

Sometimes it’s not always clear

It’s also important to respect your partner’s boundaries and make sure that any sexual activity is based on mutual consent and enthusiasm. If one of the partners is uncomfortable or feels unsafe, it is important to stop the activity immediately and make sure that all emotional needs are catered for.

We all know that sexual consent is an essential part of a healthy and consensual sexual relationship, even in long-term relationships. On the other hand, it can be confronting to admit that you don’t have consent, because you have to admit that you are being rejected at that moment sexually. Unfortunately and far too often, partners on both sides accept this lack of real consent within their couple.