For millions of people there is no greater sign of their love for another human being than their wedding ring. When couples decide to tie their lives to one another, they exchange their vows and wedding rings. The rings are meant to act as a symbol of their undying love for one another and, traditionally, are never to be removed.

However, it is becoming more and more common for individuals to not wear their wedding rings after their wedding day. Many of those who choose not to wear their rings are men, and the reasons for this vary from the honorable to the dishonorable. Below are some of the most common reasons men do not wear their rings.

1. Infidelity

Introducing the dreaded word no married woman wants to hear. No woman wants to marry a player. But if a man is not happy in his marriage, bored, feeling inadequate, overly curious, finally getting a close encounter with this childhood crush…or worse still, he’s a ѕєχαнσℓι¢, then I think his wedding ring would be coming on and off more times than the ʟɪɴɢᴇʀɪᴇ of a ʜɪɢʜ-ᴇɴᴅ sᴛʀɪᴘᴘᴇʀ (I’m just saying…).

2. Wrong size

If the ring is a very loose fit then the man’s probably going to lose the ring. If it’s a very tight fit then wedding-ring dermatitis would probably happen after a few months. Of course there’s usually the recommendation to re-size the ring…but seriously, who ever gets round to doing that after the wedding ceremony?

3. Discomfort

Apart from irritation, it may just feel like extra weight (‘yeah right’ I hear the ladies say). For hands-on type of men it would be in the way if, for instance, you’re a gym instructor and you lift weights which result in blisters from the extra friction.

4. Carelessness

Some men take off their rings each time they’re taking a shower or participating in sports or doing the dishes. Such men may genuinely forget to put their rings back on. Where such rings become missing, the men will buy a replacement…when hell freezes over.

5. Choice

Dear women, believe it or not but there are men out there who never took a liking to wearing any piece of jewelry whatsoever. Not every man is ‘down with the bling’. Conservative types tend to think it’s all a bit flashy. In some dodgy parts of the world an expensive-looking ring is an invitation to armed robbers (and if the ring is too tight when they apprehend you, that finger may get chopped off).

6. Because of their job

Many men have jobs which are too dangerous to perform while wearing jewelry. Mechanics, construction workers, and even military pilots often go without wedding rings because it is possible to lose a digit during the performance of their job if their ring becomes stuck.

7. Because of their health

Believe it or not, men can be allergic to the materials their ring is made of, making it uncomfortable to wear their ring. Other health reasons for not wearing a ring include rheumatoid arthritis. Conditions such as RA cause body parts to swell and often attack joints, such as those in the finger.

Okay, okay, this is a scary topic for some but there’s no need for women to fear. Now you’ve got your checklist so hopefully there should be a lesser chance of any unpleasant surprises. And if you’re religious pray, for God’s sake PRAY!