Being Faithful - The Fateful Decision Various studies of the rate of cheating suggest that the modern rate is about 40% of men and women have sex with someone outside their marriage. It used to be that more men than women were cheaters, but in recent years it seems that women are catching up. Inescapably an affair corrodes a relationship. Even kept secret, feelings of guilt, betrayal, separateness infect the intimacy of a marriage and this tends to be lasting, so the consequences of the decision to stray are far-reaching. Why People Keep the Faith A good sex life with one's partner is certainly important, and there are other critical factors: Friendship and Appreciation - both men and women have a continuing need for appreciation and support. Refer to The Law of Five to One.s Unless there is a positive overall feeling in the marriage, the partners are vulnerable to outside 'offers'. Boredom - Couples who invest time and energy in maintaining their interest in each other are less likely to look for outside stimulation. Keep loving as part of sex - couples who deliberately make sex one expression of their love for one another enliven their relationship, make it unique to them, which strengthens resistance to outside temptation. Build "love maps" - learn what is important each to the other to increase intimacy so you do not suffer the 'aloneness' of distancing from each other. In short, invest time and attention to marriage to make it the most rewarding relationship of your life!