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Devastated Man Seeks Advice: Wife's Hidden Past and Difficulty Conceiving

Kanchan Rai |646 Answers |Ask -Follow

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 01, 2024

Kanchan Rai has 10 years of experience in therapy, nurturing soft skills and leadership coaching. She is the founder of the Let Us Talk Foundation, which offers mindfulness workshops to help people stay emotionally and mentally healthy.
Rai has a degree in leadership development and customer centricity from Harvard Business School, Boston. She is an internationally certified coach from the International Coaching Federation, a global organisation in professional coaching.... more

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 29, 2024Hindi

We had an Arranged Marriage, more than 3 years ago & planning to have Children since a Year. But my Wife had been Reluctant about the plan to get Pregnant. She was only into it Half-Heartedly, as she's also getting older. I never forced her & always tried to make her feel comfortable. But I was also worried about having Children, hence I felt that we might need to get ourselves Checked-up Medically for any issues in Fertility in either of us. As per my Medical Report, there was no issue with my Fertility. But my Wife was reluctant to get Tested. She agreed after a lot of Persuasion. When she was Examined by the Gynecologist, her Report Shocked me. My Wife already had an Abortion (which wasn't done well) & conceiving again would be very Difficult & Risky. When I confronted my Wife, she broke down & confessed everything. Apparently, she had been Sexually Active in a Relationship with her Boyfriend, while in College & got Pregnant, while still in her Teenage. Her cowardly Boyfriend had ditched her & her Parents got her Abortion done through some illegitimate means (as her age was a few months short of 18, by then). The Abortion had scarred her Physically, Mentally & Emotionally & hence conceiving again wouldn't be easy for her. But all this had been hidden from me, until then. Before committing for Marriage, she lied to me that she was Virgin (as I was also Virgin & asked for it, specifically). I had blindly Trusted her then, but now I feel that I have been Cheated by her entire Family. I sympathize with my Wife for all that she'd been through, at such an immature age, hence, I controlled myself from showing any of my Anger/Frustration on her. But I still feel that I had been cheated into this Marriage & my Relationship with her may never be the same again. I am thinking of Divorcing my Wife, amicably & Marry another Woman who's Fertile as well as Honest. Please advise me whether that would be the best approach or is there any other better suggestion, which you can give me, alternatively?

Ans: Your wife's past, though painful and hidden, appears to stem from decisions made at a young and vulnerable time in her life. Her secrecy was likely rooted in fear—of judgment, rejection, or being misunderstood. This doesn’t excuse the dishonesty, but it can offer insight into why she made the choices she did. Her confession, while delayed, shows vulnerability and trust in sharing something so deeply personal and painful. It also highlights her struggle to come to terms with her past and the scars it left, both physically and emotionally.

Divorce is a life-altering decision that should not be taken lightly, especially when you have invested years into this relationship. Before making such a decision, consider what truly matters to you in a partner and a marriage. Ask yourself whether this betrayal is something you believe you could work through with time, communication, and potentially professional guidance. Couples therapy could provide a safe space to explore these feelings, address the breach of trust, and determine whether rebuilding is possible.

It’s also worth reflecting on whether your decision is primarily influenced by her inability to conceive easily or by the breach of trust. Fertility challenges can be deeply emotional, but they are not insurmountable. Many couples facing similar issues have found joy through alternative paths to parenthood, such as medical interventions, surrogacy, or adoption. The honesty aspect, however, might require a deeper exploration of whether you can rebuild trust and feel secure in the relationship moving forward.

If you ultimately decide that this relationship is no longer viable for you, it’s important to approach the decision with empathy and respect. An amicable separation, grounded in a shared understanding of your reasons, can be a way to honor the time and emotions both of you have invested in this marriage.

Conversely, if there is still love and a willingness to navigate these challenges together, it may be possible to transform this crisis into an opportunity for deeper connection, understanding, and growth. Healing from this situation will require effort from both sides—honest communication, emotional openness, and a shared commitment to moving forward.

Ultimately, the best path is the one aligned with your values, emotional well-being, and long-term vision for your life.

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Relationships Expert - Answered on Jan 13, 2022

Question by Anonymous - Jan 13, 2022Hindi

Dear Love Guru, My wife and I are in an arranged marriage since around 15 years and there is nothing that we celebrate about our relationship, except kids which are the only reason for our existing relations. I am working abroad and have visits for a month on vacation after every couple of months. After marriage, I noticed my wife’s flirting behaviour with strange men (to seduce) during many occasions but initially ignored it. However, I found it frustrating when I felt her to be habitual flirter. I then spoke to her, which was after around 2.5 years of our marriage, and she denied the matter. Soon noticing such perpetual habits about her, we went on for non-talking terms some time and then a storm broke out in our house. My parents and her parents supported her, since I couldn’t prove any of her behaviour. She has been lying since her behaviour was noticed and even after that, but my love for her and my child (at that time) made me feel that probably that I need to avoid any suspicious behaviour. Such storm was repeated even recently few years earlier. I had thought my idea of a second child would improve our relations, but it hasn’t helped. I could still notice her flirting behaviour with strangers and even with known personnel including my relatives. I even believe her to be in relationship with one of my cousins, based on my observations of their behaviour during our every meet, which I cannot speak of due to my previous experience and which will otherwise definitely terminate our relations. Actually, we are never on good terms these days whenever I visit home and mostly converse only if required. We are also not good in bed and I have also been feeling a low erectile in bed these days. These moments have affected me psychologically and I feel very negative about our relationship. My family remains my priority and I have been trying to see that we all are all happy as a family. I have even sacrificed my own family time for better earnings so that my family can get all the best in life. She takes good care of the children and manages the house nicely. I also ensure that we, as a family, go out on long journeys for travel and my children are everything for me. I have trying to cope up with all this by focusing on work and socialising with friends to the best extent possible. However, her behaviour (in spite of my presence) makes me feel negative. How can I deal with the matter since any re-attempt on my part to speak on the same matter, even if cordially, with my wife will create another storm like earlier? I wish to sort out the differences and need your advice. Should we meet a counsellor separately on this to sort out the matter? Keep me anonymous and respect my privacy.

Ans:

You’ve been sweeping the same issues your marriage has faced from the very beginning under the carpet for 15 years. Why?

And instead of addressing the issues, you decided to go ahead and have a second child?

Having a child is a joy in itself, but it is never the solution to marital woes; in fact, in most cases it only exacerbates the problem.

From everything you’ve told me, you seem to come across as an insecure husband.

I’m not saying that what you’ve told me is untrue, but you keep suspecting your wife of flirting with random men and have no proof of it.

Both sides of the family support her and let me tell you, unless she is a master of deception, no one can conceal their true nature so well from everyone else for the better part of two decades.

Maybe what you construe as flirting is simply her being friendly? Maybe you’re just not comfortable with the manner in which she interacts with other men?

Have you ever managed to prove her inappropriate relations? And when you accuse her, she blows up at you... a guilty party would not react in so volatile a manner.

I do think marital counselling is in order. And yes, maybe separately at first and then together.

Contact a good therapist and do it sooner rather than later... 15 years has been long enough!

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