If your relationship with your boyfriend has been causing you grief lately, you may be in need of some guidance. After all, just what is it that makes for a loving, lasting relationship, and what are the signs that things are headed for a breakup? If you are wishing you had a "Should I break up with my boyfriend" quiz, you have come to the right place. Note: as you go through each of the following questions, remember or write down the total number "yes" answers you give out of the 9 questions.

1 - Do the two of you argue more than twice per week?

Frequent arguments are often the result of underlying, unresolved issues. Remember, if your arguments have gotten worse lately but the cause is identifiable and is bound to go away sooner or later (e.g., money problems, mother-in-law in town, etc.), answer "no" to this question and move on.

2 - Does the thought of breaking up cross your mind more than once per day?

If so, it probably means that part of you is seriously considering the idea. This could be a sign of deep issues in your relationship.

3 - If you close your eyes and imagine what life would be like if the two of you were apart, does the mere notion give you a giddy sense of freedom?

Freedom is usually what people dream about when they yearn to be released from bonds that restrain them. Of course, on the contrary, if the thought of being apart from him brings forth feelings of loneliness, you may really still love him deeply.

4 - Have you ever cheated on him?

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Of course, if you have strayed from the relationship, it could be merely a sign that you were feeling insecure and sought what you needed in the arms of another man. Still, a history of cheating on him is a strong sign that you are not happy with your boyfriend.

5 - Has he ever cheated on you?

If he has cheated on you, it is likely that as a result you are experiencing trust issues with your boyfriend. You may be finding it hard to trust him again. If these trust issues run deeply enough, it could spell real trouble for your relationship.

6 - Were you dissatisfied with the way he celebrated your most recent birthday or your anniversary?

For most women, birthdays and anniversaries are very special events. If your boyfriend did not take even these dates seriously, it may be a sign that he does not care enough. On the other hand, remember that men (on average) are notoriously much less sentimental than are women, so do not read too deeply into his lack of consideration.

7 - Do you have any serious issues about who he is as a person?

If you find yourself having lost respect for your boyfriend because of his actions or words that you found offensive or unpleasant, you might not be able to recover from this; it is impossible to really love someone you do not respect.

8 - Do you find yourself having to pretend to be someone you are not when he is around?

It is important that you act in a genuine manner when you are with him. If you find that you can almost never be yourself, you need to address the problem or get out of the relationship.

9 - Are you waiting for things in your relationship to get better at some point in the future (i.e., "Things will surely get better when . . . ")?

Waiting for some magical time in the future - such as when you get married, you move, you get a bigger house or apartment, etc. - in order for things to get better is a mistake. You need to work on being happy in the present - with or without him.

To score your quiz: add up all of your "yes" answers. If you answered "yes" to more than 4 of these questions, it may be best to call it quits and move on. If not, you may have everything to gain from focusing your efforts and trying to make your relationship with him work.