Is there such a thing as too much information? Is your attempt at 'sharing' causing some friction on the homefront? This article will give you an idea of how much or little you should tell your significant other.

Since you first realized that the appendage attached to your groin could be used for more than rudimentary bodily functions, you've become a star athlete at playing the field. Your pick-up lines are flawless, your tactics and strategy honed to perfection, and women, scores of them, have tripped over each other to be graced with your physical presence. You've got so many notches in your belt it looks like Swiss cheese.

And then the unthinkable happens. You meet 'The One', the only female able to stop you dead in your tracks and end the game. Not that it's a problem. Even a feast of plenty will get stale over time, and you were ready to settle down anyway. But, how much of your sexual past should you share with your significant other?

The short answer? None. Zip. Nada. While men have this inherent need to brag about their success rate as a Super Stud, the women in their lives don't want to hear about it. We all have a past, but in a serious relationship some discretion is both called for and expected. After all, do you really need to know that the lovely (and seemingly virtuous) creature adorning your arm blew half the football team at a frat party when she was on the cheerleading squad? Probably not. So why would she want a visual of you grunting and sweating over some other female? If you think it'll impress her, think again.

While honesty is an admirable trait, there are certain aspects of your life that should remain a mystery, not an open book. Unrealistic though it may be, women prefer to think of themselves as the first, last, and everyone in between. It's completely unnecessary to kill that fantasy by volunteering information we didn't ask for. Dragging the past into the present can create a crowded atmosphere and spoil special memories we feel we alone should have. Here's an example:

Dick and Jane were taking a scenic tour through Dick's hometown. He showed her the sights, landmarks, and places where he spent time as a kid. Pulling up to a picturesque spot by the river, he pointed out, "And that's Pecker Point. Spent a lot of time there, if you know what I mean, nudge nudge, wink wink." Needless to say, Jane wasn't in the mood for a romantic stroll along the water, and Dick couldn't figure out what he'd said wrong.

A potentially perfect day had just been ruined because Dick couldn't resist the urge to crow about historical events that had absolutely nothing to do with what's going on in his life now. For Jane, the memory of an idyllic drive had been tainted with visions of him playing tonsil hockey with his female classmates. When Jane recalls this day, it won't be just the two of them she remembers. It'll be two plus the spit-swapping harem.

While recounting previous long-term relationships can give us some valuable insight into what makes you tick or react the way you do, caution should be exercised here too. Saying something like "Sue was a lousy cook, but Lord, she was a mink in the sack" would be a definite no-no. Tell us what went wrong; tell us what went right, but leave the physical aspects of old relationships out of the mix. We don't need to know who taught you that thing we like, or how many other women have complimented you on a particular move.

Are we being irrational or oversensitive? It depends on which side of the fence you're standing on. Men aren't much different; they're just sensitive and touchy about other things. Most need to think that they're the best lover their woman has ever had, whether that's fact or fiction, and we usually let them run with that. Can you imagine if we dispelled that with "Sure, you're great honey, but there was this guy once that curled my toes and straightened my hair"? I think it's a safe bet that there'd be a huge reaction to that, and you wouldn't feel irrational or oversensitive.

Your woman may be a lot of things to you, your best friend, lover, confidante, but one thing she's not is your guy pal. She won't share your enthusiasm for your past prowess with the ladies. Save your tales of sexual conquest for boys' night out where they'll be truly envied and appreciated. At home though, leave memory lane where it belongs...in the road maps of your mind.

Copyright 2007, Arlie MacGregor