Preparing for Marriage – Dealing with the Ghosts of Your Sexual Past
By Chris Hammond, MS, IMH One of the most frequently asked questions by couples preparing to get married are, “How much of my sexual past do I need to reveal to my partner?” While this can be a difficult question to answer, there are some basic guidelines to follow. 1. Don’t lie. Starting off your marriage with a lie is not a strong foundation and sooner or later the truth will come out in the most horrible way. Even though it might hurt your partner’s feelings or you might potentially lose them, it is far better to be honest and suffer the immediate consequences then it is to lie and live with life-long guilt and much worse consequences. Remember a lie is not just speaking untruthfully; it is also withholding the truth. 2. Disclose any health hazards. Some states require that you disclose any sexually transmitted diseases or infections before they offer a marriage...