The months of a deployment pass by and you survive. You are ready for reintegration.
You went to the briefing and consulted the pamphlet. Then you reassured yourself that you can handle this difficult aspect of military life. The day has finally arrived when your spouse comes home and the reunion was magical. It was so good to see each other in person.
But when the reintegration starts, you find that they didn’t tell you everything. You knew that it wouldn’t be all romance and roses but you may not be prepared for the reality of it all. There are some areas that many people don’t talk about. Hopefully, you won’t experience them, but when talking with seasoned spouses, they wish they knew about some pitfalls that aren’t voiced.
Sex Life
While most people assume that the love returns immediately, that’s not always the case. Don’t forget that it’s been months since there has been physical contact between the two of you. One spouse may be ready to resume the sex life that was there before they left. The other may need some time. Don’t be alarmed. It doesn’t mean that this aspect of your marriage will never return. It simply means that you may have to work at it. Too many spouses don’t want to admit that the bedroom isn’t initially the same place as before. You may have no problems with affection in public, but going that extra step may take more than a few more paces.
Medical
And when the passion is back, there may be something else that appears: a medical issue. UTIs (urinary tract infections) are quite common in women during this time. Even though a UTI is often a minor inconvenience, I would caution you against just doing the over-the-counter or home remedies. Your body isn’t used to all that bacteria. The same is true for yeast infections.
But it’s not just women who need to worry. Medical problems can happen to men too. The lack of use and then vigorous exercise can be an interesting combination. Again, it is important for him to go to the doctor. Your doctor is your best friend, despite what many military members think.
