You risk your relationship with your spouse or significant other. No matter whether he discovers your affair, obvious tensions and emotional distance will build in your relationship. And, of course, if your spouse discovers the affair, he will be hurt, will no longer trust you and might reevaluate your relationship.

You risk hurting the person you are having an affair with. Over time, she might begin to feel insecure, self-loathing or resentful. Her own significant other or family might suffer by extension.

You risk damaging your professional reputation. Your potential for career advancement could be damaged, or you could lose your job if the affair is taking place with a co-worker.

Your friends might lose respect for you if they learn about your affair.

Your life might begin to spin out of control because of the complexity of your lies -- or even your own guilt.