What Lack of Intimacy Does to a Woman? 10 Possible Effects

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Marriage is a sacred bond that involves love, trust, and intimacy. Marriage offers us so many life-enhancing gifts. Number one on the list is intimacy, both sexual and emotional. 

However, some couples will go through phases where there is a lack of intimacy in the marriage. Where does this come from, and what can women do to help bring intimacy back into the marriage?

For many couples, maintaining intimacy in their relationship can become a challenge over time. The lack of intimacy in a marriage can have profound effects on the emotional and physical well-being of both partners and may even lead to the breakdown of the marriage.

Talking about women specifically, what lack of intimacy does to a woman is beyond measure. Women can be extremely vulnerable when it comes to aspects that affect them emotionally.

According to Psychologist Mert Şeker,

Women often experience internal turmoil in emotionally challenging moments, and this can negatively affect their emotional well-being. In this process, they may seek emotional support, support from close relationships, or personal development.

These experiences can often help women discover their emotional strength and increase their inner resilience. However, they are still more likely than men to have deep emotional reactions when faced with these challenges.

What happens when a woman lacks intimacy?

If you’ve asked yourself, “What lack of intimacy does to a woman,” remember that the answer is elaborate.

When a woman lacks intimacy in marriage, it can have a significant impact on her emotional and physical health. The lack of physical touch, emotional connection, and sexual intimacy can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and low self-esteem. 

It can also cause psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, and decreased libido. Additionally, the lack of intimacy can create a communication gap, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Ultimately, the lack of intimacy can erode the foundation of the marriage, potentially leading to separation or divorce.

What lack of intimacy does to a woman? 15 effects

Lack of intimacy in marriage can have several effects on a woman’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. In this article, we will discuss ten of the most common effects of a lack of marital intimacy on a woman.

1. Low self-esteem

What lack of intimacy does to a woman has a direct hit on her confidence level. Intimacy for women is connected to the way they feel about themselves.

Intimacy is an essential part of any marriage. It provides a sense of security, love, and acceptance that is crucial for a woman’s self-esteem. When a woman lacks intimacy in marriage, she may feel undesired and unimportant. This can lead to low self-esteem, making her feel unattractive and undesirable.

2. Loneliness

One of the most significant effects of lacking intimacy in your marriage is loneliness. When a woman doesn’t feel emotionally connected to her partner, she can feel isolated and alone, even when she is physically present with her partner. This can lead to feelings of sadness, depression, and anxiety.

3. Lack of emotional connection

A woman needs to feel wanted. Emotional intimacy is an essential part of a healthy marriage. 

Without an emotional connection, a woman can feel like her partner doesn’t understand her and her needs aren’t being met. This can lead to frustration and a feeling of emotional disconnection, making it difficult for her to communicate with her partner.

4. Decreased libido

So, what does a lack of intimacy do to a woman’s libido?

Lack of intimacy in marriage can also lead to a decrease in a woman’s libido. When a woman doesn’t feel emotionally or physically connected to her partner, she may have little interest in sex. This can lead to tension in the relationship and make it difficult for the couple to connect physically.

5. Increased stress

When a woman doesn’t have an emotional and physical connection with her partner, it can lead to increased stress. This is because she may feel like she is carrying the burden of the relationship alone. Stress can lead to physical and mental health issues like headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.

6. Resentment

One of the lasting effects of lack of physical intimacy in a relationship is resentment towards the partner and their relationship. 

When a woman feels like her emotional and physical needs are not being met, it can lead to resentment towards her partner. This resentment can lead to anger and frustration, and it can cause the woman to distance herself emotionally from her partner.

7. Communication gap

Lack of intimacy can also cause a communication gap between partners. When a woman doesn’t feel like her partner understands her emotional and physical needs, it can be difficult for her to communicate her feelings. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in the relationship.

8. Infidelity

Infidelity can be a result of a lack of romance in marriage and negatively impact what intimacy means to a woman. 

When a woman doesn’t feel emotionally and physically connected to her partner, she may seek intimacy outside of the marriage. This can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, and it can ultimately destroy the relationship.

9. Negative body image

What is intimacy to a woman? It can be a way to feel beautiful about herself. 

When a woman feels like her partner doesn’t find her attractive, it can lead to a negative body image. This can be especially true if her partner is not showing her physical affection. Negative body image can lead to a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

Psychologist Mert Şeker points out,

A lack of intimacy may be an important factor that can lead to body dysmorphic disorder in women. This condition can challenge an individual’s ability to realistically evaluate their own body, leading to body dysmorphic disorder.

10. Divorce

Like all human beings, women need affection. A woman needs to feel wanted in a relationship. The effects of lack of affection in marriage can be severe sometimes.

Is lack of intimacy destroying your marriage? When a woman feels like her emotional and physical needs are not being met, she may seek a divorce as a way to find happiness and fulfillment elsewhere. This can lead to a breakdown of the relationship and can be devastating for both partners.

11. Diminished sense of connection to partner

The absence of intimacy can result in a diminished sense of connection to the partner. A woman may feel emotionally distant, leading to a sense of detachment that can strain the overall bond between partners, making the relationship feel more like a partnership than a shared emotional journey.

12. Impact on parenting

A lack of intimacy can extend its effects to parenting. Emotional disconnection may influence the ability to co-parent effectively, affecting the overall atmosphere within the family. This can lead to challenges in providing a nurturing and supportive environment for children, impacting their emotional well-being.

13. Difficulty in trusting again

Experiencing a lack of intimacy can erode trust in relationships. If a woman has faced emotional neglect, rebuilding trust in subsequent relationships may become challenging. Lingering doubts about a partner’s sincerity and commitment can impede the development of healthy, trusting connections.

14. Impact on career and personal growth

The stress stemming from a lack of intimacy can spill into other aspects of a woman’s life, including her career and personal growth. The emotional toll may hinder professional performance and limit personal achievements, creating a barrier to overall well-being and fulfillment.

15. Strained physical health

Prolonged lack of intimacy can contribute to physical health issues beyond stress-related symptoms. The body’s response to emotional neglect may manifest in headaches, fatigue, and compromised immune function. The overall impact on physical health underscores the interconnectedness of emotional well-being and physiological health.

5 useful ways to bring back intimacy in marriage

The great thing about intimacy in a couple is that it is a renewable resource. Sure, when you go through a rough patch, it may feel depressing, like things are never going to be the way they were when you were first married. 

You think fondly of those days when sex was at the forefront of marriage, and it wasn’t such an effort to carve out time to talk about meaningful subjects with your husband. 

Missing those times? Know that you can bring intimacy back into your dynamic. It will just look different now, as compared to when you were newlyweds. For couples willing to put in the work, intimacy 2.0 is at hand!

Let’s look at some effective ways to bring back the lost intimacy.

1. It begins with focusing on you

What does intimacy mean to a woman? Don’t expect to change your spouse. You can only change yourself, how you look at things, and how these issues affect you. 

Take a moment to think deeply about your marriage: what you expect from it, what you love about it, and what you dislike about it. 

Psychologist Mert Şeker points out,

Mindfulness emerges as an important tool when restoring lost intimacy with your partner. Being mentally present allows you to better manage emotional reactions, which strengthens communication.

Mindfulness exercises done together can help couples understand each other more and strengthen their emotional bonds. It has been observed that this practice reduces stress factors in the relationship, supporting the couple to focus more on each other and regain lost intimacy.

Ask yourself if your expectations of intimacy are realistic. Ask yourself if you are doing enough to communicate these expectations to your husband.

2. Ask your partner how he defines intimacy

It may be that your husband does not realize that you are sensing a lack of intimacy in the relationship. He may be fine with the level and frequency of your sex life. 

He may have no problem at all spending evenings on the internet or in front of the TV, and he may think you have no issue with this. If you haven’t told him that you are feeling disconnected from him, you need to do so. 

Men are not mind-readers and are not gifted at picking up subtle hints. It may be that the lack of intimacy you are feeling stems from a misunderstanding of what you need from him to feel heard and loved. Tell him. He cannot guess.

3. Make your marriage a priority again

Are you wondering about how to deal with a lack of affection? Prioritize your relationship with your partner.

All the other demands on your time are real. But you can prioritize them in order to focus on restoring intimacy in your marriage. Once all of the evening tasks are done, why not draw a bath instead of picking up your tablet and scrolling through your Facebook feed? 

Then, invite your husband to take a relaxing soak with you or just watch you as you unwind in the tub. The goal is to be together without outside distractions. This is a natural spark to intimacy, both emotional and sexual.

Maintain this priority. It doesn’t have to be a bath. You can do a low-key exercise together, like yoga or stretching. Anything not in front of a screen that gives you a block of time together after all the chores are done.

4. Plan some ‘fun’ things to do together

To increase or revive intimacy, sit down with your partner and create a “fun” list of things you both enjoy doing together. This can be something as simple and accessible as cooking a new recipe or as complex as putting together an itinerary for a trip you’ve always dreamed of taking. 

As per Psychologist Mert Şeker,

That pleasant time spent together can strengthen the bond between couples. For example, events such as a cooking class, nature walks, or a concert you want to attend together can help couples bond with each other. 

These types of events can spark romance by increasing your shared experiences with each other while encouraging coming together in a fun environment.

Remember to follow through on a regular basis with the items on this list! Don’t just put it away in a drawer.

When women feel a lack of intimacy, it can be a real wake-up call to start paying attention to the relationship. There are normal ebbs and flows in every couple’s sense of connection. 

The important thing is to identify what is going on so you can commit to rebuilding that wonderful sense of intimacy that every marriage deserves.

Sharing laughter together can also help couples regain their intimacy. To understand this better, watch this video to learn more about the role of humor in relationships:

5. Make time for each other on a daily basis

One useful way to bring back intimacy in marriage is to prioritize quality time together. This can involve setting aside dedicated time for date nights, engaging in activities that you both enjoy and making an effort to communicate openly and honestly with each other on a regular basis.

Alternatively, you can visit a professional therapist and receive marital counseling for that much-needed support.

FAQs

If you’re feeling like the intimacy in your marriage has dwindled, you’re not alone. This FAQ section aims to provide some more answers and support for women experiencing a lack of intimacy in their marriages.

• Why do wives stop being intimate?

There are various reasons why wives may stop being intimate in their marriages. Some of the most common reasons include stress, exhaustion, hormonal changes, relationship issues, past trauma or abuse, lack of emotional connection, and dissatisfaction with the physical aspect of the relationship. 

It’s essential to address the underlying issues causing the lack of intimacy and communicate with your partner openly and honestly to find solutions and rekindle the connection. Seeking support from a therapist or counselor can also be beneficial in resolving the issue.

• What happens to a woman in a sexless marriage?

Being in a sexless marriage can have a significant impact on a woman’s emotional and physical well-being. Women may experience feelings of rejection, loneliness, and resentment. This can lead to a loss of self-esteem and confidence, as well as an increase in stress and anxiety. 

Physically, women may experience changes in their hormonal levels, which can lead to a decreased sex drive and discomfort during sex. It’s essential for women in sexless marriages to communicate openly with their partners and seek professional support to address the issue.

• What happens to a woman with no intimacy?

A woman without intimacy may experience emotional distress, including loneliness, diminished self-esteem, and heightened stress. The lack of connection can contribute to feelings of undesirability, negatively impacting her mental and emotional well-being.

• What does no intimacy do to a relationship?

The absence of intimacy strains relationships, leading to emotional distance, increased conflicts, and potential breakdowns. It undermines the foundation of love and connection, fostering dissatisfaction and hindering the growth and resilience of the partnership.

• What does lack of intimacy do to a woman’s brain?

The brain reacts to a lack of intimacy with heightened stress responses, potentially impacting mental health. Emotional neglect can contribute to feelings of isolation, triggering changes in neural pathways associated with mood regulation and self-perception.

• How does a sexless marriage affect a woman?

A sexless marriage can lead to decreased self-esteem, emotional disconnection, and physical health issues for a woman. The lack of intimacy often results in feelings of neglect, impacting her overall well-being and potentially causing long-term damage to the relationship.

Final thoughts

A lack of intimacy in a marriage can be challenging, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the relationship is over. It’s important to understand the underlying causes of the lack of intimacy, communicate openly with your partner, and seek professional support if necessary. 

With effort and commitment from both partners, it’s possible to rekindle the connection and intimacy in the marriage. Remember, every relationship has its ups and downs, and it’s how we navigate through the tough times that ultimately determine the strength and longevity of the relationship.