His wife stopped wearing her wedding ring. He’s not sure how long ago it happened, but one day he looked at her hand and noticed something was missing. If she always wore the ring and suddenly her finger is bare, that must be a shock. Obviously your first reaction is curiosity and you asked him about it, right? Most wives in this position have one of several responses including, “I forgot to put it on today, my hand is swollen, or I didn’t want to hurt it.” She must use her inner instinct to truly understand what is going on and, of course, must observe her behavior as today turns into tomorrow and the week goes on. Although not wearing a wedding ring is often a simple and innocent oversight on the part of a wife, it can also be a sign of much marital dissatisfaction lurking deep in her heart.

There are a number of reasons why women stop wearing their wedding rings:

It no longer fits. Unfortunately, for us women, weight gain is not subjective. Not everything goes to our hips or thighs as we claim. Hands accumulate fat when a woman gains weight, and the size 5 sparkler you gave her on your wedding day may now fit no higher than her knuckles. If your wife is a little curvier than she was the day you were married, this may be the culprit.

she is incredibly active. Women who love to exercise, whether it’s running, biking, or gardening, often ditch jewelry for comfort reasons. If her wife took her wedding ring off and on frequently, she may also be worried about losing it. This is more common than most men realize and you can usually tell if this is the reason the ring is missing from your wife’s finger. If you always wear it when you go out or when you are just relaxing around the house, you appreciate that ring and its meaning.

She is having an affair. This seems incredibly obvious and sadly it is. If he finds her wife without her ring when he returns home, it may be because she is hiding it in her pocket or purse. This is often the first tangible sign of an affair, and if you’ve had lingering suspicions about how faithful he is, it’s worth it.

His feelings have changed. A woman’s wedding ring is a sign of her devotion and commitment to her husband. It is an outward sign of the silent vows that are made between a couple not only on the day they marry, but also as their life together matures. If her wife feels less close to you or she feels there is an emotional disconnect between the two of you, she may have removed her ring because it is a painful reminder of happy times. If her wife seems dissatisfied with the marriage in general, it is most likely because she no longer wears her wedding ring.

If you notice that the missing ring has become a pattern, talk to your wife about how you feel about the marriage. If it’s something as innocent as your hands no longer accommodate the ring, you can resize it or maybe pick up a new one as an anniversary gift.

If your reasoning is more serious, it’s important to address your feelings before the ring becomes a symbol of a failed marriage. Take the missing ring as a sign that you need to talk more with your wife. It very well could be a life-changing argument for both of you.