There are no guarantees in love, nor are there fool-proof ways to prevent your significant other from cheating. However, you can minimize the risk of infidelity in a relationship. Check out these tips to get a good start on a healthy relationship.

Get to Know Your Partner

Often when two people first meet, the novelty and excitement of a new relationship causes a woman to jump straight in before fully knowing her partner. Take your time and look for those tell-tale signs of a cheating man: lapses in communication, disappearing acts, defensiveness when asked about his whereabouts and hesitation to introduce you to friends and family. Practice patience and watch for red flags before taking the plunge.

Set Standards and Consequences

In the beginning of a relationship it’s important to let your partner know upfront what you expect and what will happen if he falls short. “Men aren’t always aware of the consequences [of their actions],” said relationship expert Yanni Brown, author of Making Love Better Begins Within. Cheating is normalized because of the media, which breeds complacency, said Brown. Therefore, men are not afraid to cheat unless women communicate consequences – so let him know you’ll jump ship if he’s not faithful.

Love Yourself

“[Some] men prey on women who they think are weaker mentally,” Brown said. The most important thing is to love yourself, she advised. Men know a confident woman will not tolerate cheating and will likely end the relationship. The more you love yourself and exude confidence, the more you will attract men who will respect you and work toward building a mutually satisfying and supportive relationship.

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