Experts claim to have identified the unluckiest day of the year when it comes to… getting lucky.
According to an analysis of demand for sexual health services – such as prescriptions for emergency contraception and STD testing – December 15 is the date on which the fewest number of people will have sex.
Dr. Babak Ashrafi, a general practitioner working in Britain, said that, based on his analysis, the day with the least demand for sexual health specialists was December 16.
“The day before may be the day when people are least sexually active,” he said.
This makes sense, given the “plethora of reasons why a person's sex drive may be lower in the winter months or why people have less sex than normal.”
Dr. Babak Ashrafi, a general practitioner from Britain, said colder months can cause the vagina and surrounding area to become dry, itchy and irritated, resulting in uncomfortable sex.
One reason is a little-known and bizarre condition that some healthcare professionals call “winter vagina.”
This is when the dry, cold air causes the genitals to go into 'drought mode'.
Dr. Ashrafi, an online doctor for Superdrug online doctor in Britain said: 'A drop in temperature can cause the skin and hair to become dry and dehydrated, but not many people know that the change in temperature can also have an effect on your vagina.
A lack of moisture in the air is partly to blame, as is heating indoor spaces more often.
'The vagina and surrounding area can become dry, itchy and irritated, resulting in uncomfortable sex,' says Dr Ashrafi.
Other factors include the stress leading up to the holidays.
Dr. Ashrafi said: 'Stress and worry can affect your sex drive, as well as other areas of your life. That's why it's important to improve the ways you deal with stress.”
The shorter days in the period, which mean less time in daylight, can affect our heart rhythms: the complex body processes that determine our sleep and waking patterns.
It's this reason why seasonal affective disorder—a form of depression caused by the changes in seasons—results in low mood for about five percent of Americans each winter.
And then there's the exhaustion.
'Less exposure to sunlight and spending more time indoors also results in vitamin deficiencies that can make you feel more tired in the winter months,' says Dr Ashrafi.
'Because energy levels are much lower due to fatigue, this can affect your libido and sex drive.'
But Dr. Ashrafi says there are several steps that can combat some of these barriers to intimacy.
For vaginal dryness: “I recommend using a lubricant, or if the problem persists, contact a healthcare provider.”
Doctors also recommend taking warm rather than hot showers because the hotter the water, the more moisture is removed from the skin.
Shorter showers are also preferred, as is showering no more than once a day, as excessive showering can disrupt the natural bacteria throughout the body.
Avoiding scented products can also help, as they can increase dryness by stripping the skin of its natural oils.
As for improving mood, Dr. Ashrafi suggests getting outside and in the sun as many times a day as possible.
If a bad mood makes it difficult to continue with daily tasks, doctors recommend visiting a doctor to talk about possible antidepressant treatments, such as psychological therapy and medication.
Studies have shown that regular exercise can not only improve symptoms of stress, depression and exhaustion, but can also stimulate bladder flow to the genitals, increasing libido.