'I just found out my wife of 6 years is actually my cousin - I want to throw up'

18 January 2024 , 11:49

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He doesn't know what to do (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A man's entire world has come crashing down after discovering he accidentally married his cousin. But despite feeling sick to his stomach about the realisation, some social media users claim it's nothing to worry about.

Not wanting to reveal his identity, the man only shared the basic facts on Quora as he is hesitant about telling those in his life the truth. Seeking advice, he simply said: "What should I do? I just found out I am married to my cousin. We just found out we were related after being married for six years."

While some users urged him to 'follow his heart', others opened up about their own blood connections to their other halves. One user said: "What degree of cousins are you? First cousins are a problem for children, but second or third is much less of an issue.

"My husband and I found out we are fourth cousins once removed on ancestry, but we both had already done the DNA tests and we didn't show up on each others fifth cousins too, and weren't aware.

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"This is a hazard when families have resided in one area for many generations! If you are happy in your marriage then I wouldn't worry about it." Another user added: "Is it such a big issue? Why don't you and your spouse stop making a big deal about it and carry on with your lives?

"You haven't harmed anybody. If you are harming no one, then nobody should be concerned about whom you live with. It's nobody's business if your spouse is your tenth cousin, fifth cousin, first cousin, or even your brother or sister. If you are worried about the effects of your relationship on your children, consult a geneticist. I really don't see what the issue is."

A third user said: "It’s really not much of a problem. Nineteen states have no restrictions at all on marriage between first cousins and most of the others allow it under some circumstances. If you are intending on having children you could obtain genetic counseling to better understand the risks and what your options are.

"Historically first cousin marriages have been unrestricted and even encouraged across many cultures. The genetic risks increase significantly when, for example, your parents or your spouse’s parents are also 1st cousins and this risk has been the impetus behind limiting 1st cousin marriages."

Paige Freshwater