Playing the field is fun for a guy, but cheating on a person in a monogamous relationship carries a bit more ethical baggage. Guys should be aware that such cheating may come with an unexpected side effect: an increased risk of member injury. If fooling around on a partner impacts male organ health, it may pay to look closely at the matter and see if something can be done to address this potential member injury issue.

Sleeping around stats

Not every person in a relationship is always satisfied with their partner, and the concept of one partner cheating on another is deeply ingrained in our culture. Yet how many people in a monogamous relationship actually engage in sensual activity with someone other than their steady partner? The answer is, “It’s hard to say.”

Although scientifically designed surveys are the best way to obtain this kind of information, the study of extramarital sensual activity presents challenges. (Most studies tend to look at sensual activity outside of an existing marital relationship, rather than a non-married but still monogamous one.) While such surveys are anonymous, many people would still be hesitant to acknowledge they have engaged in sensual activity outside their marriage. Because of this bias, exact figures are hard to determine.

At one point, noted sensual activity researcher Shere Hite claimed that some 70% of women married for more than five years had had an affair. But most experts agree that figure is most likely overblown. A 2006 paper by noted researchers estimated that 3% to 4% of married people currently had a partner outside their marriage and that 15% to 18% of married people have such a partner at some time in their married lives.

The member injury connection

This article isn’t going to weigh in on the morals of cheating on a partner. The point is to bring attention to the potential connection between extramarital affairs and member injury.

It’s important to know this connection is based on one study, published in the Journal of Sensual Medicine in 2011. And it’s small in scope, so the results are by no means definitive.

This study looked at 16 men who suffered the relatively rare event of a male organ fracture, so severe that it required surgical repair. All patients were seen at the University of Maryland between 2007 and 2011. Of these 16 patients, eight sustained the member injury while engaged in extramarital sensual activity. Of the remaining eight, only three sustained injury in the bedroom; the other five were having sensual activity in atypical locations (such as an elevator, public restroom, etc.).

The scientists theorize that stressful situations can contribute to an increased risk of member injury. The stress that might come from sensual activity in an atypical location is easy to see. But the psychological stress involved in extramarital sensual activity is blamed for the higher percentage of injuries in that group.

In other words, men may feel a sufficient level of guilt or anxiety about cheating, such that it creates a situation in which member injury is more likely to occur.

The take home message: if a guy is going to cheat, he needs to find a way to “de-stress” himself to make sure his male organ health doesn’t suffer from fulfilling his desires.

Male organ fracture is serious and requires doctor’s care, but regular member injury – such as soreness – whether from cheating or monogamous coupling is easier to handle. Regular use of an excellent male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help. Look for a crème with Shea butter and vitamin A, two superior moisturizers that relieve taut skin soreness. A crème with vitamin C, a big aid in collagen production, can also help, keeping the skin supple and loose and increasing manhood comfort.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male member health issues, tips on improving male organ sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy manhood. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.