Like every intimate-or-otherwise relationship in life, a relationship with a girlfriend can sometimes break up. Once the breakup occurs, the girlfriend is termed ex-girlfriend. Depending on the level of intimacy between the two adults, breaking up can be traumatic.

To a younger mind, a breakup with a girlfriend is often seen to be more devastating than circumstances warrant, but the feeling that one has lost a dear friend is common at any age. The reasons for a relationship breakup leading to an ex-girlfriend situation vary from a sudden shifting of residence to simply growing up. For example, a boy and girl of 12 may not necessarily share the same comfort levels and interests at age 21.

The reasons for a breakup vary differently in adult relations. A common reason for a brutal breakup is singular and isolated incidents concerning both or one of the two in the relationship. Sometimes the reasons depend on various factors like levels of intimacy, concepts, principles and general compatibility.

There are also various degrees of separation and breakup. In some cases, people move on with their lives after a breakup and their attitude towards their ex-girlfriends is cordial and pleasant. However, what a person feels or does about his girlfriend after a breakup depends mostly on the reasons for the breakup.

Ex-girlfriends are often termed to be trouble, and many existing relationships are broken due to an ex-girlfriend suddenly coming to life in a man's world. Then there are even the on-off relationships, which hinge desperately on one phone call, e-mail, chance meeting at the mall or even party invitations by common friends.

Sometimes, there can be dangerous repercussions of broken relationships on both sides. Drug and alcohol dependency, stalking, and loss of profession are commonly sparked off by a breakup.