A five-year long study conducted on a sample of 1,805 women � all of them victims of harassment -- has revealed that 74 per cent of the men had apologised to them after the fight.

The study, conducted by the Delhi Police's Crimes against Women Cell, states that although the men were apologetic and promised never to repeat their mistake; they always ended up breaking their promise.

Experts state that most men feel guilty after a fight as they realise that they are just venting their frustrations. However, they are never able to keep their promise of never repeating the fight because of the various pressures of everyday life.

The study further reveals that most women give their husband a lot of chances before seeking professional help. On an average, a woman takes at least four years to seek professional help, states the study. Incidentally, most of the fights and incidents of harassment occur between 10 and 12 in the evening.

The women also pointed out that most men try to prove that their wives are either mentally ill or depressed during a fight.

Among the 1,805 women who took part in the study, 36 per cent admitted that they had made unsuccessful suicide attempts before seeking professional help. However, they were stopped from trying again by the thought of their children.

"In several cases, the victims did not want any police action against their husbands. All they wanted was some counseling and a shoulder to cry on," said Vimla Mehra, an officer working at the Cell.