Although the population is growing, England and Wales saw birth rates drop by 3.2 per cent in 2018. In 2012, there was also a drop in the peak by 9.9 per cent. This drop can be due to a range of reasons. The most common reason is likely due to couples deciding to focus on their careers and start a family later on when they have more money.
This isn’t the case for all couples, however. Unfortunately, the reason is fertility. According to the NHS, while 84 per cent of couples will conceive naturally within a year if the have regular unprotected sex, one in seven couples may struggle to conceive. While some may go down the route of IVF, others may choose to have surgical procedures to help treat infertility. There are also supplements available for both partners to take to help boost their fertility levels. Coenzyme Q10 boosts fertility by improving sperm quality. But, while these are all ways to try to increase our chances of conceiving, there are many bizarre fertility rituals evident across the world. Here, we explore.
Baboon Urine Cocktail
You’re probably already aware that some foods are classed as aphrodisiacs. The likes of oysters, asparagus, and pomegranate are all said to have seductive connotations, while some restaurants and bars have concocted what they believe to be sensual cocktails. However, locals in Zimbabwe have taken it to a whole new level. It’s believed that baboon urine carries hormones that can boost male and female fertility. People are known to mix baboon urine with beer in a bid to aid their likelihood of becoming parents. Unsurprisingly, medical professionals in Africa advise against this ritual.
Throw Your Knickers
You might’ve heard of Muriels in Belfast, the quirky bar with women’s underwear hanging around for décor. However, this isn’t the case in the Congo. It’s customary for the nation’s Yansi people to throw their underwear onto their roof when it’s a waning moon. This is meant to help boost fertility and the rate of conception.
Soaked Through
In Holloko, men will soak women in water as part of an annual Easter tradition. This ritual dates back to as early as the 2nd century and is believed to be a way to cleanse women in order to give them the gift of fertility. Women who want to participate line the streets in traditional clothing and wait for males to throw water over them.
Sit for Fertility
Acclaimed as a miracle chair in Naples, this chair is believed to have been owned by Saint Maria Francesco of the Five Wounds of Jesus. The chair sees thousands of women queue up to sit in it and be blessed with increased fertility levels. There’s obviously no scientific proof that this will work, but around the chair are thousands of pictures of babies born to ladies shortly after they took part in this ritual.
Wet Thumbs
Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul, previously a church then a mosque, sees people come from far and wide to see the column which is said to weep holy water. Believed to be the tears of the Virgin Mary, women will stick their thumb into a hole in the Wishing Column and rotate it as far as they can in the hope of boosting their fertility levels. They believe that this is their way of being blessed by this sacred water.
Rubbing a Coffin
Although it’s considered the norm to host a wake once someone has passed away, things are done differently in Cantonese regions of China. Often, the daughters-in-law of the deceased will cover their stomachs with green cloths — this colour as associated with spring, growth and fertility. They will then rub their bodies against the coffin in a bid to gain the procreative power of the recently deceased person.
Cornwall Stones
Surprisingly, Britain has some quirky rituals to add in too, involving Cornwall’s ‘Crick Stone’. Its legend dates back over 4,500 years and it’s said that if a woman passes through it seven times, they’ll fall pregnant shortly after
While these traditions are fun and certainly unique, if you’re seeking fertility treatment, it’s probably best to seek medical advice.
