I am having to cheat on my wife as she denies me intimacy

DEAR DEIDRE: SEX with my wife is non-existent, so I joined a dating website as I felt I was missing out.

I made several “friends with benefits”, but I’ve discovered it’s not the answer.

I am 45 and my wife is 41.

We have been together for 12 years and have a daughter aged seven.

Everything is good in our relationship apart from the lack of sex.

I get very frustrated.

I am not a sex maniac or someone who wants sex all the time.

I just want a normal sex life.

I have tried to talk to my wife about how I feel but nothing changes.

I don’t think she can begin to understand what it is like for me.

I know there is more to life than sex and I really don’t enjoy cheating.

It’s not only the sexual frustration that I struggle with, it’s the total lack of intimacy and not feeling wanted by her.

I know what I am doing is wrong and I really want to stop, but at the moment I can’t seem to help myself.

DEIDRE SAYS:  It is unrealistic for your wife to think your marriage can survive without sex – but having sex with other women is not the answer.