Have you ever sat and wondered if you’re going mad because seemingly ALL of your friends and family have birthdays in September? Don’t worry, you’re not going mad at all. We’re here to tell you that September is actually the most popular birth month in the UK… and if you think about it, it makes total sense.

If you count back nine months from September, it takes you to December. We guess that’s one way to spread festive cheer! But, seriously, if you’d rather avoid unplanned pregnancy, and don’t fancy becoming a parent right now (or ever), we’d recommend looking into a regular contraceptive method.

Like we mentioned, it all comes down to the month of conception, and nine months before September is December. Coincidence? We think not! December is a stereotypically happy month and from kissing under the mistletoe to cuddling up in front of the fire, everyone seems to be getting in the holiday spirit.

With its romantic reputation, December has even been shown to be the most popular month to get engaged. So when it’s cold outside and you’re feeling full of love and joy, getting into bed with someone you care about might not seem like the craziest idea after all!

Perhaps it’s not just down to the decline in temperature. Psychologists know that the colour red really grabs our attention (think signals for danger, fast food logos, etc.) AND studies have shown that the colour that most heterosexual men and women are attracted to is red, too.

Apparently this is due to it representing status and dominance when worn by men, and for more primal and biological reasons when worn by women. Either way, you can’t deny that red is a colour closely associated with Christmas, so perhaps it’s seeing candy canes, Father Christmas or Rudolph’s nose around every corner that’s getting us in the mood!

As if seeing red wasn’t enough to turn us on, there are certain scents that can supposedly also have an effect on our frisky feelings. Pumpkin pie, for example, has been shown to increase blood flow to a man’s nether regions by 30 – 40%! Scientists speculate that this might even be down to the sweet and tempting notes of vanilla and cinnamon, both of which tend to give us all the festive feels.

It’s hard to argue with the evidence that winter has the potential to be a pretty sexy time for a lot of us. Back in 2012, Match.com reported a peak of three million emails sent by users during Christmas week and a Tinder report from 2017 showed an app crash on December 16th with almost half of their users unable to log in.

That’s OK, too! We want you to be free to enjoy any and all of the festivities you want, without unplanned consequences. Not everybody wants babies – either right now or at all – and we think your choice should be respected. If you’re not looking to get pregnant, you should consider contraception. There are loads of potential options out there, and we’re confident that you’ll find one that works for you.

Everybody is different, and so will be our reactions to various contraceptives. Before deciding on a contraceptive method, we recommend doing your research into what might suit you and your lifestyle best. It might be an idea to trial various contraceptives to see how well they fit into your life and routine.

Contraceptive effectiveness generally depends on how reliably you take or use your contraception. Of course, contraceptives like the IUD, copper coil, injection and implant all work within your body and you don’t have to rely on remembering to take them. When it comes to contraceptive pills, however, it is important to take them correctly. For example, when you take Hana (a progestogen-only contraceptive pill) at the same time every single day without a break between packs, it is over 99% effective at helping to prevent pregnancy.

Yay for you! If you want to start a family in the new year, you’ll need to start thinking about how you stop taking your contraception. If you’re using a progestogen-only pill, you can just stop taking it. That’s the great thing about the mini pill – you can start and stop whenever you want. Your fertility should return to normal fairly quickly, so make sure you’re putting extra precautions in place (like using condoms) if you’re coming off the contraceptive before you want to get pregnant.

Of course, fertility is different for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns about your own fertility or how long it might take you to get pregnant, we recommend speaking to a medical professional, like a GP.

Like we said, the holiday season is brimming with festive joy, and you might find that your social calendar is considerably busier than usual and your schedule may be disrupted. Between that and trying to remember exactly which scented soap your nan likes best, contraception might slip your mind and you could experience contraceptive failure (forgetting to take your pill or the condom breaking) or even just make a human error. Accidents happen, and nobody is perfect!

In this instance, you can seek out the morning after pill. There are two types of morning after pill – those containing levonorgestrel and those containing ulipristal acetate. ellaOne, a ulipristal acetate-based emergency contraceptive, is 2.5x more effective than levonorgestrel and can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and purchased online or over the counter in a pharmacy. It’s worth remembering that ellaOne is more effective the sooner you take it.

We do not recommend the morning after pill as a method of regular contraception. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, we think it might be a good idea to look into other potential contraceptive options.

Find out more about Hana, a progestogen-only contraceptive pill.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/articles/howpopularisyourbirthday/2015-12-18

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181204-best-month-to-get-engaged-married-pregnant-and-divorced

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/scientists-reveal-the-colour-that-makes-you-more-attractive/SKBVBKQVEP76PH5QA527VTBRE4/

https://aanos.org/human-male-sexual-response-to-olfactory-stimuli/

Hana® 75μg film-coated tablets contains desogestrel and is an oral contraception for women of child bearing age and people with uteruses to prevent pregnancy. Always read the instructions on the package leaflet carefully.

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet contains ulipristal acetate and is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Always read the label.

You may have noticed that your menstrual cycle can have an effect on your day to day life, depending on which part of your cycle you are in. Some days we may feel overwhelmed, tired and a bit emotional, while on others we’re full of energy and ready to seize the day. Your menstrual cycle can also affect both your desire to exercise and what kinds of exercise you may feel drawn to. 

There are four phases of your menstrual cycle, and each can impact how you may be feeling: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase. During the follicular phase, you may have an increased libido, due to the high levels of oestrogen, while in your luteal phase, you may feel a bit more irritable and down and experience some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, due to low levels of progesterone. 

Research has found, up to 90% of women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which can be as simple as moodiness or headaches for some, but so severe for others that they miss work or school. There are numerous well known benefits to regular exercise, including weight loss, increase in stamina, better sleep, strength gain, reduced stress and improved overall well being. But did you know that exercise can also affect your menstrual cycle? 

Exercise on your period has been shown to be beneficial for a number of reasons. Some women and people with uteruses experience painful cramps just before and during their period, and regular exercise can help to reduce them. The main reason believed for this is due to the endorphins and pain-relieving hormones that are released during exercise. 

This is why exercising during your period can help boost your mood and counteract the fatigue you may be feeling. This could be from something as simple as going for a walk or doing some yoga, or something more high impact like going for a run or weight lifting. As with anything else, listen to your body when exercising on your period and do what feels right for you. There are very minimal risks when exercising on your period but it may be helpful to adjust your regular routine during this time. 

Some of the risks are as minimal as struggling with endurance; research has found that women who had already ovulated but not yet started their period had a harder time exercising during hot and humid weather, while other risks are more minor, such as bleeding through your protection. When exercising it may feel like you are bleeding more than usual, but this is just caused by the body’s movement causing blood to exit the uterus faster.

If you’re keen to exercise on your period it can be helpful to take some over the counter pain relievers, which can help to ease cramps. You should also make sure you stay hydrated and, of course, remember to bring period protection with you. 

Throughout your menstrual cycle, it’s likely that your energy levels will fluctuate  due to the changing hormone levels during your cycle. On the first day of your period, your oestrogen and progesterone levels are at the lowest, and begin to gradually rise throughout your cycle. In the first couple days of your period you may feel fatigued or low on energy due to the decrease in oestrogen levels, so this may not be the best time to work out.

As a result, some may find it easier to get active and be motivated at other times of the menstrual cycle, such as, around the third week, right before ovulation, when oestrogen levels are at their peak. Tracking your cycle, your energy levels and your workouts can be a great way to know when in your cycle you are feeling your most energised.  

Over-exercising and not fuelling your body properly can cause lighter or irregular periods, or even make them stop altogether. Exercise is good for you, but suddenly starting a vigorous fitness routine and low-calorie diet puts strain on your body that can cause periods to become irregular or stop altogether. This is called ‘exercise-induced amenorrhea’, where, in response to the stress your body is under, the hypothalamus (a part of your brain) begins to stimulate the ovaries less. 

A regular period can be a sign that your reproductive health and a hormonal balance are in good shape. If your period begins to change – as a result of exercise or otherwise – it is recommended to speak to your doctor, as this can lead to more serious health problems such as anaemia or loss of bone density. 

It is sometimes common for athletes to have irregular or missed periods due to the intensity of their training programs and hormonal and bodily changes they go through, especially in preparation for performance. When thinking about team sports and female athletes, it’s not unusual to wonder – if they are following the same training programme and are constantly around each other – whether their periods sync up. You’ve maybe even wondered if your menstrual cycle syncs up with your friends. 

As far as we know, there is little to no evidence that women or people with uteruses can disrupt each other’s cycles. As the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, it’s not unlikely that your period will come at the same times as those around you sometimes. Whatsmore, you’re more likely to remember the times you and your friends do sync up than the times you don’t. 

We know that exercise can affect periods but you may be wondering how birth control, like Hana®, affects your periods. When taking a desogestrel contraceptive pill like Hana®, not everyone reacts the same. Around 20 to 30% of users may experience more frequent bleeding when starting a desogestrel contraceptive pill, while 20% of those taking pills containing desogestrel, like Hana®, may experience a light bleed a bit like a light period, or amenorrhea, where periods stop altogether. This normally subsides after a few months, but if you are concerned you may want to speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice. 

Progestogen-only contraceptive pills like Hana® should be taken non-stop, without a break between packs. This may mean that your periods could change in frequency or that you no longer get your periods, which is one of the most common side effects when taking progestogen-only pills. As your body gets more adjusted to this, your periods may come back after a few months or they may not – it varies from person to person. It’s important to remember that no form of birth control is 100% effective and having no period could also be a sign of pregnancy. If you feel you are showing symptoms of pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test as this is the only way to know for sure.

Hana® 75µg film-coated tablets contains desogestrel and is an oral contraception for women of child bearing age to prevent pregnancy. Always read the instructions on the package leaflet carefully.

Premenstrual symptoms — severity, duration and typology: an international cross-sectional study 

Lorraine Dennerstein, Philippe Lehert, Torbjörn Carl Bäckström, Klaas Heinemann 

Physical activity and your menstrual cycle

Office on Women’s Health  

Hana SmPC – date of last revision of text July 2021

It’s a cliche but it’s true: time moves fast, and it seems to move faster as we get older. Times have also changed, and continue to change. Whilst our parents may have been married with a mortgage and a few children by their early thirties or even before, that’s not true of many people these days. These days, the average age women and people with uteruses have a child is 31, and half of those born in 1990 were childless at age 30. In contrast, the average age of having a child in 1949 was 22.

The cost of living crisis – alongside financial, housing and ecological uncertainty, as well as people choosing to focus on their studies or career – and the fact that many of us are realising that we want more time to figure out who we are and what we want from life means that people are increasingly waiting longer to ‘settle down’ – if that’s what they choose to do at all.

“It is definitely not unusual to not feel ready for kids at 35 or over; everyone is different and everyone’s life situation is different,” says lifestyle coach and author Sarah Banks. “Some people don’t meet a partner they want to start a family with until they’re older, some people don’t feel that they are in the right situation to start a family until they are more stable (financially, emotionally, practically), some people are sure they don’t want to start a family but then change their mind as they get older and their life and outlook changes. This is all perfectly normal, and choosing if and when to start a family is a very personal decision.” 

Thirty five is still pretty young in the grand scheme of things, but the discourse around having children when you’re 35 or older can feel discouraging. Talk of ‘geriatric’ pregnancies and being repeatedly reminded about the rising risk of miscarriage, birth defects and lower egg counts can put a lot of pressure on women  and people with uteruses to have kids ‘before it’s too late’.  This can make some people feel panicked as they enter their thirties, and some might feel like they ‘have’ to have kids now even if they don’t feel like it’s the right time. So what do you do when you’re 35 or older and you don’t feel ready for kids, or you’re not sure if you want to have them at all?

When or whether you choose to have kids is a very personal choice which no one else can make for you. There is nothing ‘usual’ or ‘unusual’ about what you choose to do with your life. It’s your body and your choice.

If you do think you might want kids in the future, but you don’t feel ready to have them now, don’t panic. Fertility does typically decline with age, but it’s not like you go from being super fertile at 34 to barely fertile at 35. Everyone is different; some people may struggle with fertility in their early 20s, whilst others may find it easy to get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies in their mid 40s. 

“The ‘biological clock’ in fertility is used to describe a woman’s ovarian reserve, and is calculated by measuring a hormone called AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) made by cells in the ovaries,” says Dr. Hana Patel. “We can use the AMH level as an indicator for how likely we are to get pregnant as the result relates to the number of eggs women have left. Our nutrition, how much we exercise and the quality of our sleep are factors we can have control over to help our cycle and hormonal levels. Many women have children over the age of 40, and studies have shown that the conception rate for this age group has more than doubled since 1990. Whilst both men and women have a biological clock, in women, there may be a greater sense of ‘pressure’ in having a baby by a certain time, due to the statistics around conception and fertility rates reducing over the age of 35 years old.” 

When you have a uterus and you’re thinking about having children in your thirties or beyond, there are some things to consider. “There is an increased risk of miscarriage and genetic disorders in pregnancies over the age of 35. There is also an increased risk of Downs syndrome,” Sarah Banks explains.

Whilst statistically it may be harder, many people do have successful pregnancies later on in their fertile lives. “I had my first baby at 34, my second at 37 and my last at 43,” says Lucy Baker, creator of the Geriatric Mum blog and Facebook group. “I got pregnant easily each time, which I feel very grateful for, so in that sense it wasn’t hard for me. I feel that having children when I was older was easier, in fact. I felt more in tune with myself as a person, better equipped to ask the right questions, more confident and I cared less about what others thought.” 

Some people may be concerned that having a child in your mid-to-late 30s or beyond would be harder than having one earlier as you might not have the time and energy to be the parent you want to be, but some mums who had children later on say the opposite is actually true for them. 

“There is a perception that when you reach the age of 35, it’s going to be hard to conceive and that you may struggle with energy,” says Juliet Owen-Nuttall, who got pregnant at 45. “The truth is that anyone who becomes a first-time mum will find it challenging as life will never be the same again. What’s important is how you approach motherhood and the steps you take to care for yourself through the pre-conception, pregnancy and the birth. As a first-time mum at 45, I have more energy than I did when I was in my thirties because I look after myself better and know that I need to carve time for myself so that I don’t get lost in motherhood. 

“I really love being a mum in my 40s because I am not trying to prove anything, I have done all the crazy stuff like living abroad and travelling. I have laid the foundation of my career so I am not juggling the two. I know myself, so the struggle to maintain that identity is not there so I can focus 100% on being the nurturer that I am. I am able to have more courage to parent the way I want to, instead of needing to check if I am doing things right. That confidence comes with age.” 

“I started to champion older mums and celebrate us because is it that much of a big deal?” says Lucy Baker. “Woman has baby at 43 – is it that much of a shocking headline? I don’t think it is. Yes, I will be 47 when my son starts school next year. Yes I will be 53 on his 10th birthday, and yes I actually think I am a better mum because of it. I am more confident, I am not wasting hours worrying about the wrong things, I have got my full-on partying days out of the way and I am loving being a mum to a little one again.”

If you’re not ready for children now and you’re worried that you might not be able to have them if you want them later on, remember that there are options.  It might be a good idea to visit a fertility clinic, even if you’re not thinking about having kids in the near future, to see how things are for you and whether there are any other options you might want to consider.

Freezing your eggs gives you the opportunity to preserve younger and potentially more viable eggs and have them available if you decide to have children later on. It’s not a guarantee, but some people find that it makes them feel more secure. Whilst egg freezing isn’t exactly affordable, there are ‘freeze and share’ schemes available in the U.K, where you can agree to some of your eggs being potentially used to help people who can’t have their own biological children still conceive a baby. These schemes are often more affordable, and they allow you to potentially help other people have children as well. You can contact clinics in your area to discuss this further if you feel it’s something you might be interested in. 

Some medical conditions, such as PCOS and endometriosis can make it harder to conceive and it may take longer, so if you want children in your future and you have one of these conditions it could be worth talking to your doctor about your options or looking into egg freezing if it feels like the right option for you.

Whilst you can’t turn back the clock, there are also lifestyle factors which can help with fertility if you are looking to get pregnant. These include keeping to a healthy weight, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia and gonnorhea are a leading cause of infertility for women and people with uteruses), getting enough sleep, avoiding smoking and tobacco products (smoking can age your ovaries and deplete your eggs prematurely), limit alcohol intake and avoid intense, vigorous exercise as this can inhibit ovulation. 

So far we’ve focused a lot on having children later in life if you might not be ready for them now but might want them in the future, but what if you just don’t ever want to have kids?

There is no ‘normal’ when it comes to your own choices about what you want to do with your body and your life. Some people want kids, some don’t. Some people don’t think they want kids and change their minds when they get older, whilst others might think they want kids when they’re younger and decide not to have them later on. There are many reasons why someone might not want children. Having kids does change your life forever, and that can be a wonderful thing, but some people don’t want their lives to be changed forever in that way. 

Some people want the freedom to travel or make decisions without that additional responsibility. For some people, not having kids is an ethical issue around the environment and overpopulation. Others may prefer to adopt, foster or be the cool aunt/uncle to their siblings and/or friends’ kids. Still others may not want to be around children much or at all. Every option is valid for the person choosing it. No one else can decide or dictate what is or isn’t right for you and your life. If someone tells you you will be ‘missing out’ on life if you don’t have kids, remember that is them saying they feel like they would be missing out. They don’t know what’s true for you.

Whether you’re planning on having kids now or in the future, if you want to help prevent unplanned pregnancy then it’s a good idea to think about your contraceptive choices. Hana® is a progestogen-only contraceptive pill available to buy over the pharmacy counter or online. 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/bulletins/childbearingforwomenbornindifferentyearsenglandandwales/2020

Your choice of contraception is a big deal. When you’re comfortable and confident with your contraception, you can feel empowered to go about your day secure in the knowledge that you are helping to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy until you choose to have children – if you choose to have children.

It’s so important that you get on with your contraception and feel comfortable with what you’re putting in your body. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to contraception, so if for whatever reason, you’re not happy with what you’re using, you have every right to talk to your pharmacist or doctor about alternative methods. 

Many people try a few different options before settling on something that works for them. We spoke to Katie, a 26-year-old journalist from London, about her contraceptive journey.

“The first contraceptive option I tried was the combined pill,” says Katie. “I started taking it when I was 18. I knew nothing about it really, aside from the fact that you had to take it every day at the same time. I personally didn’t get on with it well – I felt really down and tearful when I was on it so – after almost a year – I came off it.” 

Like all medication, some people may experience side effects from their contraceptive pill. Some side effects tend to settle within a few months, but you should also check the information leaflet which comes with your pack and follow its advice regarding side effects. If you have any concerns, you should speak to a healthcare professional – like a doctor or pharmacist – for advice. 

Everyone is different and their experience of contraception may also be different, so just because a certain pill worked for your best friend, your big sister or someone on Twitter doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily work for you. Listen to your body and know that you have options.

“I was off contraception for over a year and noticed a big improvement in my mood. But I decided to go back on the pill after some accidents with condoms,” says Katie.

Condoms can be a very effective method of contraception. Male condoms are 98% effective with perfect use (when they are always used correctly) and can also protect you against sexually transmitted infections, so they’re a good choice if you’re sleeping with someone new and/or you don’t know your partner’s status.

No method of contraception is 100% effective: condoms need to be used correctly – and even then, some may break. Find out more about why condoms break here.

“I tried a copper coil – as there would be no hormones involved so I thought that would be good, as it wouldn’t affect my mood,” says Katie. “I wasn’t prepared for how painful it was but also the coil wasn’t fitted properly so I was effectively having unprotected sex for three months. After that was revealed by an ultrasound, I had the coil taken out and went back on the combined pill.”

The copper coil, also known as an IUD, is a long-acting reversible method of contraception and can protect you against unplanned pregnancy for 5-10 years. It is very effective (over 99%) and can also be used as an emergency contraceptive if fitted within five days after unprotected sex.

People have different experiences with contraception. Some people absolutely love the IUD, whilst others may find that it’s not for them. 

“I was on the combined pill for 3 years, but then I had a migraine with aura so three months ago I changed to a progestogen-only pill (aka a POP),” says Katie. “On the whole, I’m enjoying it – I find it easier having the pill every day. I get my pill from the pharmacist. It is a bonus to have one I can stop at any time – but having to remember to take it every day is a definite downside. I feel that I now know a lot more about contraception. I’ve done my research and googled a lot, plus I ask more questions.” 

It’s important to take the progestogen-only pill every day without a break between packs for it to be effective. If you’re having trouble remembering to take your pill, this article might help. 

Did you know that you can now buy some progestogen-only pills, such as Hana®, over the counter without a doctor’s appointment? Pharmacists are qualified to do a consultation with you to check whether the progestogen-only pill is suitable. You can buy a progestogen-only pill from your local pharmacy, via hanadirect.co.uk, or you can still access it from your doctor.

How many contraceptive options have you gone through before settling on your chosen method? Let us know @hanapilluk.