I knew that telling Trapped to consider having an affair was going to be controversial. Trapped, you remember, is the 42-year-old woman married to a 58-year-old man who can no longer have sex due to health issues. She loves him and would never divorce him, but sometimes she wishes he were dead.

I told her the anger she's suppressing may one day overwhelm her and she might do or say something she'll deeply regret. Here's what you had to say.

HAILEY: Marriage vows state "for better, for worse, in sickness and in health." Nowhere does it say you can break them because your sex life is nonexistent.

DOC: I'm a surgical oncologist, and I deal with married couples all the time. Do you suggest that I should incorporate an escort service as part of my practice, for a woman with breast cancer who is sick from chemotherapy or can no longer enjoy a sexual relationship because of the effects of the life-saving therapy?

Do you think that any time there's a nonperforming spouse the other has an excuse to satisfy his or her desires by cheating and being dishonest with the morals and ethics of the most sacred relationship before God? Shame on you for such awful advice.

ISLA: I'm not a saint, and I'm not an expert on monogamy, but I think you skipped several important steps that Trapped should take before making like Lady Chatterley. For one, she should insist that her husband go to counseling, either on his own or with her.

He'll learn that there are lots of options to explore, and his understanding of intimacy will broaden. If Trapped takes a lover before she tries this she'll be the villain. Even if her husband were to say it's OK with him, it probably wouldn't be. That part I know something about.

MARK: I think it's deplorable that you'd tell Trapped to have an affair. Wedding vows should mean something. If I were giving her advice I'd tell her to buy a vibrator, close her eyes and start fantasizing. But I do wonder why she would marry a much-older man in the first place.

I'm curious, Cheryl, would you give the same advice to a man in the same situation?

Dear Mark: Yes, I would.

RICH: Bravo for dishing out advice that has some teeth. I, too, was in a marriage that became sexless due to physical ailments. After so many searches and numerous doctor visits, I decided I needed intimacy. I was beginning to resent and hate my situation. I've been having discreet sexual encounters with women who know my situation. I'm upfront with them and always get tested for STDs.

My situation at home is great because there's no more tension regarding sex. My wife doesn't know, or she pretends not to know. Either way we'll stay together forever. She's an amazing woman who doesn't deserve the cards she was dealt. Kudos for suggesting the obvious.

What advice do you have for Trapped?

Got a problem? Send it, along with your questions and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my e-book, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."