I finally hooked up with childhood crush at 46 and sex is over in a flash

DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER finally plucking up the courage to tell my childhood crush I love her, we are now in a relationship.

Everything is going well apart from when we have sex.

I only ever want to make her happy but I climax too quickly and sometimes even lose my erection.

We’re both 46. I had my first kiss with her when we were six years old.

An innocent little kiss on the lips but I have been in love with her ever since.

I finally mustered up the courage to tell her how I’ve felt all those years, only for her to tell me that she loves me too.

We’ve been together for four months and it is as if we have been together forever.

She’s so amazing. She always comforts me when sex doesn’t work out.

I want to give her pleasure so it makes me feel inadequate that I can’t give her what she wants in the bedroom.

She has said that I overthink it and I am sure that she is right.

I’ve had quite a difficult relationship when it comes to sex and love due to being abused as a child.

I’m scared because I know at some point I’ll start pushing her away because of my insecurities.

I don’t know what to do.

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s natural to be nervous about having sex with someone you care for, especially at first.

That anxiety makes it more likely you’ll have performance issues and especially so when uncomfortable memories are triggered.

You would find it helpful to talk through what has happened to you with the support of a counsellor. My support pack, Abused As A Child, explains more.

You can also get in touch with the National Association For People Abused In Childhood (napac.org.uk, 0808 801 0331) which can help.

My support packs, Want To Last Longer and Solving Erection Problems, have advice that you and your girlfriend can follow.