For Men: Things you should never say to your girlfriend

Let's be honest, men have a reputation for occasionally blurting out Statements without thinking through how insensitive they may sound to others.

This can cause potentially disastrous situations if the person being addressed is your partner. Even if she doesn't dump you on the spot, chances are your ill-conceived comment will not only knock her confidence but also make her question why she's going out with you.

This scenario is easily avoidable even if you're in the habit of speaking without fully engaging your brain.

Read on as we reveal 10 things you should never say to your girlfriend.

"My ex was much better at that..."If there's one golden rule in life it is to never - repeat, never - tell your current squeeze that she doesn't measure up to her predecessor. Particularly, if what you say has anything even remotely to do with the bedroom, clothes, cooking, driving... hell, just about everything short of manslaughter.

"I didn't bother getting you a birthday card this year. They're just so pointless, aren't they?"Er, no. Not in a woman's mind they're not. In fact, greeting cards form the cornerstone of female relationships in a way blokes will never understand. It's all thanks to a bizarre form of Victorian-style etiquette that requires female friends to constantly send each other cards on so-called important dates to show they 'care'.

"What are you thinking?"We all know this is something that women like to randomly hurl at blokes purely to mess with their brains. But that's no excuse to retaliate.

"Know what? Your friend has got an amazing body. Do you think she works out?"There's a very real chance your other half may go nuclear at this point. Not in any fist-flailing, send-you-to-casualty way, but in a manner that's all together more sinister and alarming.

To begin with she'll probably just say something like "yes, she's really pretty" to politely agree but deep down she will instantly become be a boiling pit of angst as she begins a horrifyingly intense period of introspection. And guess who'll suffer both barrels of her body-related whining? You Silly man!

"Crikey, fetch my sunglasses! Are you really going to wear that?"Duck. Now. Better still, sprint out the door and bolt it behind you. Not only will she have spent hours - even days - selecting her garb for your night out, there's every chance she will have lost weight and stumped up a shed-load of cash for the privilege of wriggling into it too.

The best possible outcome is that she retaliates with a heavy-footed stomp up the stairs, followed by a two-hour trawl through her wardrobe and a sternly delivered "So. Is this better?" when she reappears. Not a good night to scuff her shoes or spill beer on her tights. No siree.

"Do you think you should be eating that?"Only the clinically insane would even consider uttering this phrase. And even then they'd probably have the nous to stop perilously short.

On the other hand it is 100% guaranteed to get you dumped. So if you're looking for a way out of a relationship, it might be worth the risk of serious injury!

"You're only saying that because you've got your period."Ouch! This particular observation is akin to inventing a time machine to the days where women were seen and not heard, barred from education and treated as a second-class citizen in just about every way imaginable. Or, at least, that's how she will view it.

There's a very real chance that the dainty little vixen you fell for will turn into a full-scale banshee at this point and possibly plot to murder you in your sleep at a later date.

"Sarah!!!" (screamed in the middle of sex when her name's not, er, Sarah)Even Houdini would struggle to get out of this one. In fact, you've more chance of being selected for the All Blacks than cobbling together a convincing cover story about her mishearing what you said in the throws of passion.

Sadly, this is just one of those occasions where you need to get on your knees and grovel. Lots. Just be prepared that no matter how many roses or fancy meals you buy, or how many presents you surprise her with, this event will be mentioned in every single row you have until the end of time.
"I love you" (without meaning it)Women are so used to meeting scoundrels that most will take this kind of utterance with a pitcher of salt - particularly, if you've had a few too many chocolate liquors.

Yet that still won't stop them from believing it deep down.

So if you don't mean it, the end result is always going to be heartache for the one in the skirt. It's quite simple really: do not say these words unless you truly, deeply and honestly mean it. Otherwise, it is guaranteed to literally end in tears and separation. Plus, very possibly, a stilettoed half-volley in the unmentionables.

"Marriage? Not for me. And kids? I'd rather dig my eyes out with a rusty spoon..."It doesn't matter if you're enjoying a college fling or a full-blown romance, a woman will always want to know that she's dating someone who at least shows vague hints of being a loving, caring human being.
You don't have to say that she's "the one" or that you want to settle down with her - in fact, that's the last thing she'll probably want to hear.
But you need to give the impression that you are at least capable of compassion and are not simply interested in a quick roll in the hay. Even if that is all you are actually interested in.