To Be a Sexless Couple? A Qualitative Study of the Assexual Phenomenon in Conjugal Relations

Abstract

This work aimed to understand the phenomenon of asexuality in relationship of couples in which one of the spouses becomes asexual by the loss of interest and sexual desire in relation to the partner, but still love him. Sexuality is a dimension of human life of a very complex nature. When it comes to considering it in the context of marital relationships, this complexity increases even more. In recent times there have been many changes in people's values and life practices, impacting their habits, customs and ways of living. Asexuality is one of many ways of experiencing sexuality, no longer considered by many as an abnormality, dysfunction or pathology, but as a possibility of being and living the sexuality in contemporary life. It is a qualitative research in which the assumptions of the Systemic Relational Theory were used. As methodology it was used semi-structured open-ended interviews of three adults from both sexes, between 36 and 58 years old, living in the greater São Paulo; being two sexual and one asexual, which reported that clinical and biological aspects were discarded; and who were or are married. The results point to the fact that in the marital relationship, the lack of desire and loss of sexual interest causes the couple to become asexual, without, however, losing interest in the person; being the affection, respect and value of the relationship constructed from a history lived by two, implies in reviewing their expectations and relationships in marriage.