Is it normal to fear penetration?

I am nearly 30 and I've yet to have sexual intercourse with anyone. I am very fearful of being penetrated. Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with any part of me being breached. I don't like things in my ears, such as Q-tips or those devices doctors use to check your ears. I hate when I have to go to the dentist because I have to allow them entrance to my mouth. But, the idea of letting a man inside me, or a woman with a dildo, truly terrifies me. I've had only one relationship in my life. It lasted seven years, and we eventually married. We divorced earlier this year. It was with a woman, and she wasn't into dildos, so it took a lot of pressure off me when thinking about penetration. Oral sex was great. Well, for her. I mostly pleasured her because I could never relax full enough for her to pleasure me. Since my separation and subsequent divorce, I've deliberately only dated men with the hope that I would eventually get used to them, form a relationship with one, and finally feel sufficiently comfortable to have intercourse. I've yet to be successful, and it doesn't help that my mom told me when I was a teen that having sex feels like a man is peeing in you. Why on earth would I want to experience that? I've put off all promising contenders by saying I don't believe in having sex until after marriage, which I actually do kind of believe. Plus, I've waited to have sexual intercourse for so many years now that I'm unwilling to give it away to just anybody. My ex-wife was aware of my fear and once tried to help me overcome it, but when she entered me just a little with a slender item, I screamed as if she were killing me. I felt as if I was being violated. I actually started crying afterwards and felt shaky. We never tried again. I think I've had this fear since I was a very young child because my mom told me when I came into their home when I was two (I'm adopted), I didn't like to be touched in my private area. And while I was still a ward of the state, caregivers documented my negative reaction whenever my bottom area had to be touched. So, is this normal? I mean, I can't be the only woman who feels this way. And, just in case anyone is wondering, I've never been sexually assaulted.

Voting Results
33% Normal
Based on 46 votes (15 yes)
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Comments ( 29 )
  • thegypsysailor

    This has got to be one of the saddest posts I've read on IIN. I wasn't even going to read it because of it's length, but it was well written and drew me in.
    Intercourse can be one of the most pleasurable experiences two people can have together, which I'm sure you've heard often enough. I can't even imagine the frustration you must feel and the complicated feelings about wanting a normal relationship and your fears all but making that impossible.
    A solution? Honestly, I haven't one. I'm sorry. I see no "quick fix" here and therapy might be your only hope.
    I do wish you all the best and I sincerely hope that one day you can experience the joy of intercourse with someone you love.

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    • Thank you.

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  • disthing

    It sounds like you have: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginismus

    There are men out there who don't see penetrative sex as the be all and end all in sexual relationships; guys who will like you enough to forego the experience if it means they can stay with you. But they're understandably rare, so you might have your work cut out if you're intent on being with a man rather than a woman.

    How you feel isn't particularly normal, but it's up to you whether or not you feel it necessary to seek counselling to overcome these issues, which sound like they're a lot to do with trust.

    Also... "My mom told me when I was a teen that having sex feels like a man is peeing in you"

    What?!

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    • Thank you for the info and advice. Lol, yeah my mom is...a character, to say the least.

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  • green_boogers

    Society says that to be happy you must suck and fuck. Always remember that this accepted social view and the pressure it exerts on everyone is wrong for you. Diddle your own clit, and be satisfied with that.

    Stay away from men.

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    • disthing

      "Stay away from men"

      Why should she stay away from men?

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      • green_boogers

        Because almost all men want and need penetrative sex. Those rare few who don't have no desire to socialize with either gender. She would be presenting herself under false pretenses.

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        • disthing

          There are asexual men who desire hetero romance and aren't socially incapable or on the spectrum.

          There are probably heterosexual men who would accept a relationship without penetrative sex.

          Whilst I agree that OP's pool of potential mates is significantly reduced, especially in regards to men, suggesting she 'stay away from men' doesn't seem very constructive. Almost sounds like a warning - stay away, or they will try to penetrate you!

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          • TheMightyOz

            That is a good warning. My cock doesn't work (I am pathetic), but I still would want to penetrate her with my fingers and get her vagina to squirt. Without some kind of penetration, there can be no significant bonding. Even giving g-spot orgasms with my fingers does not give the closure that our souls desire.

            I am just pathetic.

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  • 1badassog&AA

    I AM not sure what advise I can offer here but I tell that (fear) and I contain it is a lie! It is stopping you from living and being happy and it's a lie not REAL in any sense! Do you brush your teeth? Do you trust you to stick the toothbrush into your own mouth? You sense that you are missing out on something good & you are because of a lie called (fear)! Are you afraid to insert your finger into yourself? Mom lied about it feeling like peeing you btw! Your 1st full intercourse may in fact hurt for most this is true so be prepared! As a young man I loved virgins & got well more then my fair share. I wanted to be their 1st because most young men don't care or realize what she is giving to him & felt that I did. If the 1st time is bad because your partner isn't gentle and loving it can & probably will adversely effect her for the rest of her life. The converse is also true if it's great she will probably thoroughly enjoy it forever and isn't that important? Making Love is in mine and many others opinions the most beautiful of all expressions of Love. I wouldn't wish to live at all without it in my life but there are some that do. If you trust yourself realize that you must trust your own choices & decisions! Try to find that beautiful soul who you trust even more then you trust yourself or don't the choice is yours! Many people maybe even most go through their live never TRULY living because of this lie called (fear) will you? I have made a 100 times more mistakes in my life then most but I have taken 1000 times as many chances. I have learned so much from those mistakes I now call them beautiful lessons and I AM planning to make some more. Love to you my beautiful sister and to all of you also!

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    • Thank you. You've given me something to think about.

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      • 1badassog&AA

        your most welcome

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  • Gspyder

    I was going to call you a pussy, but pussies enjoy being penetrated.

    Joking, it sounds like a phobia. I haven't heard of this one but there are similar ones about not liking being touched of being afraid of sharp objects. Phobias usually require being overcome by pushing yourself little by little until they don't have enough effect on you to negatively affect your life. You could consider seeing a therapist for help overcoming it. Good luck!

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    • Thank you.

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  • k10101010101010101010

    Im sorry u have been thru so much. This must be verd hard. Do u use tampons? Just pads?

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    • Thank you. And, I just use pads.

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      • k10101010101010101010

        If you don't really want to seek professional help, then you will have to self diagnose and treat. In order to do this you would need to meditate and look within yourself to identify the trauma that you had has a child and how you carry that emotional baggage. One method is to write it down, acknowledge it, and then rip it up and burn the paper. Doing this, you acknowledge it's dead and gone and a new you emerges! Then meditate some more and tell yourself before you go to sleep what you want to achieve. Do this every night. Declare this to the universe with love in your heart. Do it with an open mind. You have the power to do this!

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        • Thank you. I will try this. :)

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          • k10101010101010101010

            awesome! I hope it helps.

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  • HATIMTAI

    Do you like to receive oral sex? Is it enough for you to satisfy sexually? There are lots of women who are unable to orgasm through penetration but by oral sex. As far as the solutions are:-1)Try dildo penetration partially,gradually slowly while watching your favourite show on t.v. or laptop (it is for distraction from your pain and fear) 2)Increase penetration as days progress 3)Fingering yourself 4)Otherwise visit a therapist.

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    • Oral sex is okay, but I'm not comfortable with it. Thank you for the advice.

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  • tripw7

    Of course, thegypsysailor is a good source for most activities sexual. You must find a women or a man that you are so comfortable with that you don't really care as long as you are with them. Until you meet that person, women or man, you will not be comfortable with sexual activity. (You can still go out to dinner and have "non sexual" friends.) Good luck.

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    • Thank you.

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  • chuy

    Could it be that you were sexually abused when you were little and you repressed the memories.

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  • chewy

    Will titty fucking reduce your fear?

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  • Sog

    You need to see a therapist. Either that or avoid relationships for the rest of your life because you won't allow anyone else to touch you.

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