Are you terribly upset because your husband cheated on you, although you gave him your heart? Well, you know your case is not at all singular. “Why does he do this to me?” is a frequent rhetorical question asked by women all around the world. Or maybe not just rhetorical. You think you gave him no reason to treat you like that? Well, we believe you. And scientists also believe you. Yes, they do. Because they found a genetic link in men who encounter problems in terms of commitment, problems such as sexual fidelity. So, don’t blame your hubby for being unfaithful to you! Genes are responsible. It’s hard to believe it? Then read this:

A man is more likely to be content only with his wife, and not to brush a mistress under the carpet, when he is short of a certain gene influencing brain activity – this is the conclusion drawn by Swedish researchers, based on the findings of a study linking men’s genes with their aptitude for monogamy.

"There are, of course, many reasons why a person might have relationship problems, but this is the first time that a specific gene variant has been associated with how men bond to their partners," is the opinion of Hasse Walum, a behavioral geneticist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

A man who inherits one or two copies of a variant of this gene, which affects a key additional hormone, is inclined to experience conjugal strife and is less prone to tie the knot, says the abovementioned study, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Walum also said that that the gene’s impact is rather moderate; therefore, one cannot exactly foresee a man’s behavior toward his future mates.

More than 1,000 heterosexual couples participated in the study. Researchers found that men who carried the allele, connected to receptors for vasopressin, a hormone in the brain strongly connected to socially monogamous pair bonding in prairie voles, are less likely to accept the idea of “till death do us part.” As shown by the samples that were collected, an estimated 40% of men carried one or two copies of a variant of this gene.

The research also involved a series of questions about conflicts in marriage or long-term relationships, their frequency and their gravity, as well as affection and satisfaction. Both men and women were interrogated. What do the answers tell us? Well, it appears that about 15% of the men who lacked the allele experienced serious conjugal discord last year, in contrast with about 35% of men with two copies of the allele. The female partners of the men who carried two copies of the allele reported higher levels of emotional erosion and disharmony than those whose partners had one or no copies of the allele.

Some believe the finding is a breakthrough that could be very useful to people when deciding to walk down the aisle. “There are many ways this information can help a man and his wife when they marry," according to Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University. "Knowing there are biological weak links can help you overcome them."

I hope you didn’t consider me a wet blanket if I spoiled your enthusiasm. As I mentioned before, not all men are prone to be disloyal, so you can still have a glimmer of hope. Maybe your future male partner isn’t a bad marriage prospect. And even if he has that allele, maybe you’ll be smart enough and able to break him in and teach him what obedience means. After all, it's not just DNA!