Singer Christina Aguilera, who is married to music producer Jason Bratman for five years, insists their relationship has not changed since they first began dating in 2002.

'Marriage unites you and makes you official but it didn't change our relationship. All the things like wanting to work hard and play hard, they were always important to us.

'We've been married for five years now, and I think the secret is in always keeping it interesting. You have to make time for yourselves,' usmagazine.com quoted her as saying.

The 'Not Myself Tonight' hitmaker says a lot of effort and patience are required to make a marriage work.

'It's important to be open to growing together and when the going gets tough, you have to see how you can make your relationship more special and how you can spend more quality time together,' Aguilera said.

'Everyone has rough patches, everybody grows and we all change. It's important to give each other room to grow and to accept them for who they are.'

Aguilera and Bratman got married in 2005, and the singer has a unique way of expressing her love.

'I leave little lipstick marks on the bathroom mirror for when he wakes up, and little notes written in lipstick on the mirror and in the shower. Little notes, little cards, little 'I love yous' here and there, just to keep things fun and alive,' she said.