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<br>For 37 years of happy marriage, my husband Jack and I prioritised sex. <br><br>We met when I was just 18 and throughout our twenties we were at it like rabbits. Having children slowed us down, of course, but when they got a bit older, we found our groove again.<br><br>Even after my sex drive took a nosedive thanks to the menopause, I eventually got my libido back in my early fifties and off we went again!<br><br>By then we were getting closer to retirement, so we had all the time in the world for sex. <br><br>Until we didn't. <br><br>In his mid-fifties, Jack was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which caused erectile dysfunction. <br><br>Even if he was able to 'function', his drive to have sex became almost non-existent because of how unwell he was.<br><br>Then, as if that wasn't enough, the final nail in the coffin of our sex life was a workplace accident in which Jack's foot was crushed by a beam.<br><br><br><br><br>A woman in her fifties whose husband was suffering with diabetes-related erectile dysfunction suggested that he allow her to have sex with a male escort (stock image posed by models) <br><br>The injury was so severe, he was lucky he didn't lose his foot, or even his entire leg. At one stage, we were worried he'd never walk again.<br><br>Thankfully after six months of rehab in hospital, he was back on his feet. But after that, his ability to have sex was hampered significantly. <br><br>Believe me, we tried. But even on the days he was sufficiently aroused, it was too difficult to get into a position that worked for both of us.<br><br>Most of the time, I'd be in the bedroom ready to go, and Jack would be on the couch, falling asleep in front of a movie. <br><br>After so many years of intimacy, it was heartbreaking. I feared spending the rest of my life in a sexless marriage.<br><br>We did try sex toys for a while but I soon got bored. It just wasn't the same as my husband making love to me. <br><br>Viagra and Cialis, the two most popular erectile dysfunction drugs, were brought up as possible solutions. But I didn't want to force medication on him, especially when his impotence was only half the problem. <br><br>Over time, I did start to think about other ways it might be possible to have my needs met. <br><br><br><br>Read More<br><br><br>My husband loves it when I cheat: The middle-class sex trend all the 'hot' wives are talking about<br><br><br>After googling 'male escorts' I came across Her Confidant, an elite escort agency for women and couples only.<br><br>I felt a bit embarrassed even looking. Could I really have sex with a man who wasn't Jack? Could I really pay someone for sex?<br><br>I thought about it for a long time. After a while, I gently broached the subject with my husband.<br><br>To my surprise, he was all for it. 'I want you to take care of your needs,' he said. <br><br>I knew he felt guilty he could no longer satisfy me - but I felt guilty at the thought of being with someone else!<br><br>Eventually, with some more encouragement from Jack, I reached out to the agency.<br><br>The founder, Anna Grosman, asked me what my preferences were: if I wanted a man with chest hair or not, someone short or tall. There were all sorts of questions. <br><br>It was as easy as booking a doctor's appointment. But going through with it was another thing altogether!<br><br>My 'date' with Sam<br><br>When the day finally arrived, I was fraught with nerves. Four separate times, I picked up the phone to cancel - but Jack talked me round.<br><br>'This will be good for [https://meneercasino.com/slot-reviews/blood-suckers can you buy lisinopril over the counter]. You need to do this - for us,' he told me.<br><br>Before my 'date', Jack helped me pick an outfit - a green dress I hadn't worn in years.<br><br>I didn't worry about wearing sexy lacy underwear - after all, I wasn't there to impress Sam. I was going there to be pleasured.<br><br>As well as feeling nervous about being with another man, something else was bothering me too. <br><br>What if Jack got jealous?<br><br>We talked it through and, once again, he reassured me. <br><br>Jack told me he simply viewed Sam like one of my sex toys rather than a man I was going to have sex with. <br><br>'He's there to do a job,' Jack reasoned. <br><br>With lipstick and perfume on, I was ready to go. Jack drove me to the hotel, we kissed goodbye, and I took a deep breath before walking inside.<br><br>Ping. I got a message. Sam was on his way to meet me for dinner first. Instantly my palms started to sweat and my heart began to pound a little faster.<br><br>When I finally saw Sam, I had no further thoughts of backing out - he was handsome, 6ft 2 and a great conversationalist over dinner.<br><br>When it was time to take things upstairs, my nerves had dissipated.<br><br>We sat on the bed and Sam asked me what I liked and what I didn't. <br><br>He kissed me softly and slowly took off my clothes.<br><br>We tried different positions and the sex was incredible. He pleased me in all the ways my husband used to but no longer could.<br><br>When we both finished, he held my hand and gave me a massage. Honestly, the aftercare was my favourite part and my best memory of the experience.<br><br>Sam made sure I was taken care of in more ways than one.<br><br>When he left, my husband came to meet me at the hotel. 'Tell me everything,' he insisted. <br><br>At first I got a little bit giggly, but soon I was telling him all about the sex, as well as the massage afterwards.  <br><br>'You really enjoyed yourself, didn't you?' Jack said. He was pleased to see me so happy.<br><br>Not only that, but he actually seemed a little turned on.<br><br>The next night, we went for a romantic break, just the two of us, and as we talked about it some more in bed, I noticed the bedsheets twitching.<br><br>Seconds later, Little Jack was standing to attention - with no drugs required!<br><br>We had full sex for the first time in years and both climaxed. Sam was worth the $2,000 and then some! <br><br>To this day, only Jack and I know I slept with another man.<br><br>There's such a stigma around sexual pleasure, menopause and erectile dysfunction, which women don't talk about enough.<br><br>I want other women to know it's okay to have desires, to take care of your own needs and to step outside your comfort zone.<br><br>Name has been changed<br><br><br>As told to Carina Stathis<br><br>