An affair can stem from many things — boredom, a lack of trust, sexual dissatisfaction, anger and neglect among other things — but does that have to be the end of your relationship or marriage? Surely not.

People have been known to get back together after one of them – usually the man? - has fallen to cheating. Some of these relationships/marriages, patched-up by forgiveness and a willingness to do better, actually turn out to be beautiful, long-lasting affairs that turn out to be enviable and all things romantic and pleasant.

Despite the possibility of things turning around, you may still want to take your time and think really well before re-committing to someone who has once tasted the forbidden fruit of infidelity.

If you ever find yourself in these shoes, here are five reasons why you may actually not take back that man.

1. Things won't ever be the same

When a man cheats on you, that sense of freedom, of trust, of respect and being sure of your place in his life goes away and may never come back.

Mind you, it is actually possible to forgive him and still not get any of these things back. What, then, is the point of  getting into a relationship in which all these are lost?

2. You don't need the worry

There’s really nothing saying he won’t do it again and frankly, you really can’t go through your days wondering if he’s really at work like he said he is, or if he’s going to stay true to you like he said he would when he was pleading for a second chance.

Remember, he promised at the beginning of the relationship/marriage. Look how that panned out.

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3. You deserve a second chance

Believe it or not, there are men who do not cheat and will not cheat, and you deserve one of them.

4. Your self-respect

How do you respect yourself staying with a man who can't or will rather not value or respect you enough to stop sleeping around town?

It could even be more humiliating if he’s doing with women that are not even fit to tie your shoe laces.

5. Just because

Really, you do not need any more reason to dump a man than the very decision to cheat on you. If you choose to leave him, it’s fine to do so without needing anymore excuse than the fact that he breached your trust with the act of cheating.