This is a blog about sex.

That’s right: a whole blog dedicated to sex.

I can’t possibly express how ridiculous it is for me of all people to have a blog about sex. Years of my life were spent on church pews, hearing about the evils of sex. I was probably sixteen before I could say the word without snickering. And even then, I had to kind of whisper it. I was twenty-two when I gave my virginity to my husband. I’ve been married for four years now, and sex is still a topic that baffles, frustrates, and intrigues me. I have a highly contentious relationship with it.

Needless to say, I’m enormously out of my comfort zone here, trying to write about something that has historically not gone well for me.

But my story is one that literally thousands of women have lived in varying degrees at various times in their lives. I know from talking to doctors, psychologists, counselors, and other care providers that although many women deal with the same issues I do, the majority of them say nothing. So I figure I have two choices: I can be another woman who suffers silently and eventually gives up, or I can acknowledge the issue and work through it, however feeble and painful my attempts may sometimes be. If nothing else, I can at least tell my story so that someone knows she’s not alone.

I am not an expert (sexpert?). Language is the only thing I’ve ever studied in any depth, so in no way am I qualified to give medical or emotional advice when it comes to sex. My goal is nothing more than to tell my story, provide information and resources that have been helpful to me, and be one voice in a vacuum of shame and silence. If only one person benefits, that will be enough. I will not post every day, perhaps not even every week, but if you’re interested, I invite you to share my story.

Let’s break the silence.