Husband (32M) keeps asking for sex on my (34F) period
We've been together 7 years and since day 1, I've said I do not want or like sex on my period. For the record, my husband rarely initiates sex, like ever. It's been a long-discussed topic in and out of couple's therapy. The few occasions where he is the one initiating will be when I'm on my period (because I'm not initiating, for obvious reasons). Each time, I say no. He will say the exact same thing: "I'm not afraid of it" as though I'm not in the mood out of consideration for him or something???? It's genuinely mind-boggling because I've explained (and he SEES) the pain, nausea, migraines, body aches, and even constant verbal proclamations of "I'm in so much pain... My uterus is killing me... My body is aching" throughout the day. for 7 YEARS!
Yet whenever he's horny during this time he seemingly works up the courage to initiate in a way he literally never does otherwise. And every single time, he posits it like it'd be a favor to me or something, like he's letting me know I don't have to be considerate of him or shy/embarrassed about my period and he's happy to have sex because he's "not afraid of it." Before anyone says "just talk to him," I'd have to start having the conversation in a language other than English for me to not be repeating myself for the millionth time.
Anyway, the point is that today, I called out sick from my new job, my period was that painful. I never call out sick, not when I had cancer (pre husband), when my friend died (again, pre husband) - it's just not in my nature (long story). He knows this. But I was in so much pain I called out sick. He came home from work and had about an hour before he had to hit the road for a weekend trip. He climbs into bed and begins rubbing my back. He does that a lot so I thought he was comforting me. I began telling him about my day/how I was feeling and I said "Ugh I've been in so much pain." I wish i was making this up - less than 60 seconds later, the backrubs turn into body rubs which then turns into:
"Are you sure you're on your period?"
"You know, I'm not afraid of it if you're worried about that."
I literally could not muster the words to respond, so he's saying all of this in silence. I turn to him and say "what did you just say?" He says "do you... want to have sex? 😏" All the while, he's grabbing my hips and sort of grinding on me in the meantime. He said some more stuff (I cant remember) and I say "Does it look like I want to have sex?" And he turns around awkwardly, says my bad, then goes to sleep. I went out to a walk we were supposed to take together and when I came back he was trying to strike up casual conversation and I didn't have the words to even respond or look at him. He ended up leaving and I'll have a few days to myself.
I don't feel like I'm overreacting but i also don't know how to process how angry I feel. I'm not sure what to do because the thought of speaking to him right now kind of disgusts me. What would you do if you were in my shoes?
Posted Aug 1, 2026, 3:50 AM UTC