Should the man or the woman initiate sex for the first time in a romantic relationship?

[SmileyLady]

I’m used to being the one who usually asks, but I haven’t had a serious relationship in years. Is this a way of scaring guys off? Do they prefer making the move?

[DishLady]

"Initiate sex"?

By the time you've gotten to sex (which should be consensual), there should have been a lot of steps indicating that the guy is interested in having sex with you, which includes heavy petting and a bunch of other things that you're permitting him to initiate.

[Lliam]

There is nothing at all wrong with a woman initiating sex. I've had it happen to me before with girls I had started dating. Of course, by then we had already telegraphed our mutual desire by kissing and groping whenever we were together. So it's not like they suddenly said out of the blue "Do you want to have sex." It was a given.

Some of the ways they initiated sex were erotic as hell and left no doubt about what they wanted.

[AnonAndrew]

These days it's usually acceptable for either the man or the woman to initiate sex for the first time, though it does still seem to default to the man a lot of the time.

When it comes to sex, most guys are perfectly happy if the woman initiates it, and won't scare them off. :) Though of course some exceptions always exist.

[naartjie]

Personally I prefer if I initiate because I’m more emotional and if a guy tries it too soon with me, it will literally ruin it for me and it’ll make me even more anxious and avoidant being intimate

[Anonymous]

There's no single right answer. Communication and mutual comfort are key. Either partner can initiate, and it's best to talk about it openly. Don't assume traditional gender roles apply.

[Bklynbadboy12]

It really doesn't matter who initiated it but I know im normally the one that starts things

[Anonymous]

I'm sure for all eternity it's normally going to fall on the man's shoulders

[Anonymous]

I don't think it matters. Either person can.

[Anonymous]

i figure it doesn't matter who does it but i'm sure 9 times out of 10 its the man.