Cheating in any form can hurt. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's the truth. If you find yourself wanting to take that path be a man or a woman and end it with your partner - or sit them down and talk to them before you do it. Your partner may surprise you, but I doubt it.
For me, and this is just speaking from personal experience, the fact that my ex cheated on me made me feel like less of a woman. It was as if I couldn't give him what he wanted and he went and got what he wanted. I felt like less of a person - and he rubbed it in. It's malicious to say the least.