Although other factors such as seasons could be contributing to the spike in conception rates in late fall, some have attributed it to Valentine's Day

Research done by the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) has shown that conception rates are high in November and early December in North America. Although other factors such as seasons could be contributing to the spike in conception rates in late fall, some have attributed it to the Valentine's Day romance. A study that was published in the Human Reproduction journal early this year indicates that most couples from the southern part of North America begin trying to get pregnant from September. Most of these couples would succeed in conceiving in November or early December.

RELATED:Foods That Can Actually Help With Conception

Lead author from BUSPH, Amelia Wesselink, says that although many studies have been done to determine seasonal patterns in births, they don't capture details such as when the couple began trying to conceive, how long they tried, or the gestation period. According to the published journal, Amelia and fellow researchers said that some factors such as employment schedules, comfort, and personal choice could affect the timing of pregnancy in many couples. For example, some women might try to avoid pregnancy during the hot season, while for others, it could be a personal preference to have a fall baby!

According to The Brink, the researchers studied data from 14,331 women who had been trying to get pregnant for not more than six months. Out of these, 5,827 were Canadian and American participants, while 8,504 were Danish participants. The studies observed and captured details of the participants every two months through detailed surveys until they fell pregnant or have struggled to conceive for 12 menstrual cycles. The study collected information such as intercourse frequency, menstruation pattern, diet, smoking, level of education, and even income.

Amelia said that after carefully studying the seasonal patterns when couples try to get pregnant, she and fellow researchers found that conception rates were high during late fall and low in the late spring. Couples from the southern part of North America had high odds of falling pregnant in late fall. The most likely reason is that they prefer to give birth in summer when workplaces are not busy, especially in the U.S. The study showed that North Americans had a 16% high chance of becoming pregnant in the fall compared to spring, while Danes had only an 8% chance of becoming pregnant in the fall. Denmark, Northern US States, and Canada's conception rates weren't affected by seasons.

There was no significant change in the outcome after controlling factors known to affect conception, such as intercourse frequency, smoking, sugar intake, and medication use. However, the study didn't point out why there was seasonal variation in fertility. Amelia said that the study was trying to look at the various hypotheses on factors that varied with seasons and how they affected fertility.

NEXT:Why It May Not Be A Great Idea To Conceive A Baby During Quarantine

Sources: sciencedaily.com, bu.edu, futurity.org.

U.S. Pregnancy Centers Now Offering Dangerous 'Abortion Reversal' Treatments

I have been a writer since 2012, and have enjoyed the journey thus far. When I am not busy writing like there's no tomorrow, I enjoy spending time with my three daughters and watching Netflix.

Continued here:
Why Americans May Have A Better Chance Of Getting Pregnant In Late Fall - BabyGaga