May 17, 2012

GOLD MEDALIST JENNIE FINCH & RELATIONSHIP EXPERT STACY KAISER HELP 'WIRED' COUPLES UNPLUG

WAYNE, N.J., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Many couples live in a "wired" world, juggling lengthy to-do lists, jam-packed schedules, and the 24/7 demands of children and manage it all through cell phones, e-mail and other electronic devices. While this wired lifestyle allows people to stay connected with more friends, family and co-workers than ever before, it is also the very thing disconnecting them from the person in the next room -- their significant other.

Findings from a new national survey of more than 300 couples revealed that on an average day, men and women reach for their cell phones, electronic devices and television remotes for a combined total of 12 times -- three times more than they do for a hug or kiss from their partner!

Jennie Finch, softball gold medalist and busy mom of a two-year-old, understands the struggle couples are facing. "When I'm on the road with my team, I use texting, voicemails and video chats to keep me connected with not only my husband and son, but also my extended family and friends. They allow me to see and talk to them every day, which is so important to me, especially when I'm halfway around the world," Jennie said. "As much as I appreciate how technology has kept us together, I have to remind myself to turn them off or ignore them when I finally have some time alone with my husband."

Just before she tries for another gold medal, Jennie and acclaimed relationship expert Stacy Kaiser are teaming up to discuss how couples can "unplug" and keep the romantic fires burning in a wired world.

"Though Jennie's schedule may not be typical, her struggle to balance competing priorities as well as a growing over-reliance on technology is something many couples can relate to," noted relationship expert Stacy Kaiser. "All of our devices can interrupt our lives, invading quiet evenings at home and even intimate moments. This not only breaks the mood, but can leave our partner feeling neglected and unimportant."

Wired Lifestyle: Barrier to Romance

The new national survey highlights the degree to which a couple's wired lifestyle has quietly invaded the bedroom:

-- 84 percent of couples surveyed feel so overwhelmed that intimacy has become more of a "to do" than a natural desire

-- About one in four women (26 percent) and men (22 percent) surveyed admit they can get distracted by the TV during intimate moments

-- Half of the men and women surveyed attributed distractions such as mental chatter, worries, stress and "to-do" lists as barriers to truly connecting with their partners.

Ramping Up the Romance

"Having a fulfilling relationship means putting the happiness, wants and needs of your partner equal to the happiness, wants and needs of yourself," Kaiser explained. "Balancing this can be difficult, especially when factoring in the pressures of work and the needs of children, but there are creative things that couples can do to make romance more of a priority."

For the nearly nine in 10 couples surveyed who wish to be more intimate, Kaiser offers these simple tips for improving romantic spontaneity and intimacy:

-- Unplug: Making the bedroom a "no-electronics zone" an hour before bedtime will allow you and your partner private time every night. Turn off cell phones, laptops, TVs and other electronics that can help create more time and emotional space for romance.

-- Take a Staycation: An intimate weekend alone is the perfect way to reconnect. If gas prices are keeping you home, then take a "staycation" right in your own backyard. Send the kids to a friend's or relative's house for a sleepover, unplug the electronic devices, and screen your calls.

-- Go Remote: Take a romantic vacation to a location where your electronic devices simply don't work.

-- Clear Your Head for Romance: Take a quick walk around the block so that you can clear your mind from extraneous thoughts, worries and concerns. Then, re-join your partner with a clear head for romance.

-- Be Spontaneous: Surprise your partner with romance, whether it's an intimate dinner for two during the middle of the week or a spontaneous massage after dinner. Also consider a birth control method that is compatible with a busy lifestyle.

"Sixty percent of people surveyed agreed that if birth control was one less thing to worry about it would remove an external obstacle to intimacy," Kaiser noted. "So for couples that I work with who have children, I recommend choosing a birth control method that allows for spontaneous intimacy, which they don't have to think about every day, such as intrauterine contraception."

"Like most Moms, I have an incredibly hectic schedule and had trouble finding a birth control that felt like a match for me," Jennie said. "I spoke with my doctor and she suggested I try Mirena(R). It's been the best option for me, I don't have to think about it and it's one less thing to have on my to-do list."

About Mirena(R)

Mirena(R) (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) is a removable intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) that is more than 99% effective and helps couples keep life simple. It works for as long as you want, for up to five years. Yet, if you chose to have Mirena removed, you can try to become pregnant immediately. Mirena(R) won't cause significant weight gain and may also provide shorter, lighter periods.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT MIRENA(R)

Candidates for Mirena(R) have had a child, are in a stable relationship, and have no risk or history of ectopic pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease. Mirena(R) does not protect against HIV or STDs. Ovarian cysts may occur and typically disappear. Complications may occur from placement. Expulsion (where Mirena falls completely or partially out of the uterus) may occur. Missing periods or irregular bleeding is common in the first few months, followed by shorter, lighter periods.

About Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.(R)

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the U.S.-based pharmaceuticals operation of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a division of Bayer AG. One of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. In the United States, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, Specialized Therapeutics, Hematology, and Oncology. The company's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human health worldwide by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.