While it's difficult to say exactly how common it is for couples to stay together after an affair, most couples who experience infidelity actually want to stay in their relationships. Recent studies find that infidelity affects 1 in every 2.7 couples and most (65%-70%) DO stay together after. Willingness to stay depends on a variety of factors such as the severity of the affair, the underlying issues in the relationship, and the willingness of both partners to work on the relationship.

 

While some relationships that start as affairs MAY be able to overcome the challenges and difficulties that arise as a result of the affair, the vast majority do not survive. Only 5 to 7% of affair relationships lead to marriage and of those, approximately 75% end in divorce.So if we assume only 25% of the initial 7% last, this means that less than 2% turn into long-lasting marriages.This is a grim statistic for couples hoping an affair will be a permanent relationship.

I'm thrilled to announce the release of my new book, The Courage to Stay: How To Heal From an Affair and Save Your Marriage. This book on infidelity is packed with all of the strategies and tools I've learned over the last 22 years as a relationship psychologist. Get the proven and practical advice that you need to truly heal from cheating. Free preview available exclusively on Amazon.