The Scientific Reason Why Most Babies Are Conceived at Christmas

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Have you ever noticed that more people celebrate birthdays around the end of August or start of September? You’re not just imagining things. Yes, there really are more babies born in those months—and it’s because Christmas (just nine months earlier!) is prime baby-making time.

The prevalence of booze and increase in sex around the holiday season naturally has something to do with the uptick in pregnancies. But those are not the only things to blame, either. According to a study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, couples might have better luck conceiving in the winter.

After analyzing over 1,000,000 births to women aged 29 years and younger, the researchers noticed an interesting pattern: Much like older women, young mothers were more likely to give birth in the summer months.

Turns out, the winter season holds biological perks for pregnancy. Men produce higher-quality sperm in the winter months compared to the summer, for starters. Plus, the changes in daylight length make a woman’s ovum a better environment for the egg. Both of these factors boost the odds of a woman becoming pregnant, the study claims.

Granted, the fact that people are more likely to hook up during the holidays “has also been postulated as a possible behavioral explanation for the December peak in conceptions,” the study’s authors wrote. These everyday things can affect your fertility, too.

Long story short: If you’re hoping to boost your fertility, consider this the most wonderful time of the year. And you might consider getting frisky in the morning, while you’re at it. In addition to the amazing perks of having sex at 7:30 a.m., one Italian study found that couples are more likely to get pregnant during morning sex. Good luck!

[Source: Cosmo UK]