WePow, I think it is interesting that you identified what causes your T to shut down rather what makes you shut down. I guess I never thought of what makes my T shut down and wonder what topics make people's Ts do this? (Hope that is related enough to the original question to not be a hijack).

I have noticed that my T shuts down when we talk about "female" issues like menstruation, my ovary blowing up and having to have it removed, my past childbirth experiences. These can be important conversations for me. I am getting to the stage where menopause is not too far off in the future. I have various female stuff going on. And I think childbirth is related to feelings one has for one's family and children and their current life stages. My T just doesn't have much to say when I say anything on these topics. Maybe they are too female-ly graphic for him? Like maybe he's squeamish or can't relate? Or he thinks these topics are not worth discussing? He sits there and lets me talk but doesn't respond or encourage the conversation or really engage with me at all. Sometimes he is quick to move us on to another topic, which is usually not his style. (He is not this way about talking about sex--not that we talk about it much.)