Sydney woman reveals reality of 12-year sex dry spell

A Sydney woman has revealed what it’s really like to go without – and the drastic steps she took before getting back in the bedroom.

A Sydney woman has detailed the stark reality of having sex again after a 12-year dry spell – including how she had to get “lessons” from friends after forgetting all her bedroom moves.

Juliette Herrera, 35, vowed to give up sex after having a religious experience during a trip to India.

Back then Ms Herrera had been a “hippy girl” into yoga and reiki, but that all changed when she met a Christian woman on her travels.

“She prayed for me and I had a real beautiful experience with God,” she told Jana Hocking during this week’s episode of news.com.au podcastKinda Sorta Dating.

Sydney woman Juliette Herrera didn't have sex for 12 years after a religious experience on holiday. Picture: Instagram/Juliette Herrera.

“That’s how my journey with my faith began, and in doing that I wanted to stop doing drugs, having sex, no drinking and completely transform my character inside.”

Dating as a born-again Christian who now abstained from sex was tricky Ms Herrera, who appeared on last year’s season of The Bachelor, said.

Ms Herrera claimed many guys “wouldn’t believe” she was serious about abstinence at first, only to get fed up waiting months in and break up with her.

Ms Herrera said many guys ‘wouldn’t believe’ she was serious about not having sex. Picture: Instagram/Juliette Herrera.

As the years went by she was also fearful that having sex again would be painful. Picture: Instagram/Juliette Herrera.

“So then they would dump me and I’d be like, ‘Oh God why doesn’t anyone wait for me? Am I not good enough?’” she said.

“Then the years past on and on and it was like five years celibate, eight years celibate, 10 years celibate.

“And it was like wow, now when I do have sex I’m a virgin, so my lady parts when I do have sex – it’s going to hurt.”

Ms Herrera is now in a relationship and having sex again. Picture: Instagram/Juliette Herrera.

Ms Herrera said she was “active now, finally” and had a boyfriend, but having sex after 12 years of abstaining had taken some getting used to.

“I still feel like a new girl doing it, because I’ve forgotten how to do everything: how to ride a guy, how to have oral sex,” she said.

Ms Herrera said she “had to ask for lessons” from friends as well as watching X-rated content to “mentally get ready to be naked with someone”.

“I basically had girlfriends who visually recorded how to do it, how to move … I was just practising on the floor,” she said with a laugh.