New Survey Suggests Couples May Need Help Keeping Their Romance Alive This Summer

WAYNE, N.J., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's demanding lifestyles make it a challenge for couples to feel free to be romantic -- especially for parents who have even less time together now that kids are out of school for the summer. In particular, women are feeling the pressure. According to a new national survey*, more women than men admit that romance is one of the top three activities they postpone due to life's everyday demands. Two-thirds of these women confess they're not in the mood for romance after a long stressful day as compared to 50 percent of men. However, more than 75 percent of both sexes agree that simplifying their busy, complicated lives would free them up to be more romantic.

"Couples have every intention of making time for romance but life keeps getting in their way," explains Dr. Laura Berman, a relationship expert who is also an assistant clinical professor of OBGYN and Psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Director of the Berman Center in Chicago and mother of two children. "Women and men need to take a step back and make a conscious effort to rid themselves of romantic distractions. For most couples, it's not so much a question of eliminating activities but rather of simplifying their lives to become more in tune with their partner's needs, and to create the emotional space for romance."

"A first step for couples is to make sure that contraception doesn't interfere with their intimate moments. One of the contraceptives prescribed at the Berman Center is the intrauterine contraceptive Mirena," says Dr. Berman. "It gives women effective birth control and helps couples keep life simple because there's no daily, weekly or monthly regimen to follow."

"Taking away the worries and hassles associated with contraception is one of the easiest ways that women and men can simplify their romantic lives and foster more spontaneous intimacy," adds Mary Jane Minkin, MD, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale Medical School. "Mirena is more than 99 percent effective, which makes it as effective as tubal ligation (sterilization), yet it's reversible and can be removed at any time if a woman chooses to have another child."

 * The March 2006 "Mirena Keep Life Simple and Sexy" survey was conducted

 by International Communications Research (ICR) of 330 women and 330 men

 between the ages of 18-49.

 Feeling Romantic, Only Differently

According to the survey, women and men appear to have very different views as to what makes them feel "free" to be romantic. As many as 85 percent of men polled feel free to be romantic when they look their best and feel good. Ninety-two percent of women, however, only feel free to be romantic when they are rested and relaxed.

A large majority of women find romantic gestures -- roses with a creative note (77 percent of women) and spontaneous weekend "getaways" (88 percent of women) to be romantic, according to the survey. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds (71 percent) of men find cooking their favorite meal alongside of their partner to be romantic. In addition, as many as 86 percent of men feel setting up a romantic evening -- music, candles, wine -- is romantic.

"The good news is that women and men may get in the mood for romance differently, but the activities don't have to be mutually exclusive," Dr. Berman says. "Guys may want to bring home some flowers and then cook dinner with their partner. The key for men and women is to spend time together, make their lives simpler and enjoy the activities that spark romance."

About Mirena

Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) is a hassle-free, reversible intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) that helps couples keep life simple. Mirena provides up to five years of birth control (or less if you choose) that is 99.9% effective. Mirena is reversible intrauterine contraception that is as, or more, effective than sterilization. Mirena is safe, estrogen-free and, upon removal, allows for a rapid return to fertility.

While only a woman and her doctor can determine whether Mirena is right for her, most women who have had at least one child are typically good candidates for Mirena. You should not use Mirena if you are at risk for or have a history of ectopic pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease. Common side effects may include missed menstrual periods or irregular bleeding or spotting for the first 3-6 months. Thereafter, most women will experience shorter, lighter periods.

Rarely, some women may develop a cyst on their ovaries. Mirena does not protect against HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.mirena-us.com.

About Berlex, Inc.

Berlex is committed to addressing unmet medical needs through research and development in the areas of oncology, gastroenterology, women's health diagnostics and neurology. Berlex also markets diagnostic imaging agents, innovative treatments in the areas of female healthcare and oncology, as well as specialized therapeutics for life-threatening and disabling diseases of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Berlex has business operations in New Jersey, California and Washington. For more information, please visit http://www.berlex.com.

Certain statements in this press release that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results and Berlex's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Berlex, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.