Almost every person has gone through the pain of a broken heart, but this pain can be much worse if it is from the actions of a cheating spouse. The signs of infidelity are usually unmistakable, which will result in many effects on a marriage.

Is your partner withdrawn, not interested in having sex, being secretive, distant or in a moody state? This could be from stress, suffering from mild depression, or the result of too much work. It also could be the results from having a secret affair.

If these behaviors are combined with showering often, strange purchases on your credit statement, phone calls being received late at night or unexpected meetings your spouse must attend, it may be time to talk openly with your partner about the possibility of an affair.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your spouse is suddenly and uncharacteristically inundating you with affection and gifts, or has increased requests for sexual activity, they may be trying to make up for a guilty conscious regarding an affair. People can and do change, but not without a catalyst.

If it is the worst-case-scenario and your partner has been cheating, you must know that it is not necessarily a cause for divorce. Although the effects of infidelity can be a challenge to overcome, they are not fatal to a relationship. Cheating can breed mistrust, anger, a sense of betrayal, bewilderment, vengeance, sadness and a loss of self esteem.

Most people who have been victims of a cheating spouse tend to internalize it and wonder what they did to turn their spouses off. In reality, it is often something inside the cheater that causes them to stray such as a fear of commitment, a deep-seated issue with a parent or even something simple like emotional immaturity.

It is crucial to understand that infidelity is usually never the problem but the symptom of a problem. These problems are usually not sexual in nature. Infidelity will happen again if you and your spouse do not resolve the issues that you have.

Affair recovery centers can help with the effects of a cheating spouse. Professional therapy can help both you and your partner realize the reasons behind the cheating, and how to help get through the emotional pain on both sides. Sometimes, however, separation may be the best way to go.