Baby boom expected after a summer of sport and jubilee

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And the birth rate could soar as "euphoria" sweeps the nation if Team GB wins a string of gold medals at the London Games.

"Olympics, royal celebrations and World Cups seem to function as cultural aphrodisiacs," said Ellis Cashmore, professor of culture at Staffordshire University.

"It's the kind of situation where people will feel well disposed to each other in an affable if not amorous way. We should see a spike in the birth rate in the spring of 2013."

Before 2003, births in England and Wales had been falling for a decade. But between March and July - nine months to a year after the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee, England's football team reached a World Cup quarter-final and Tim Henman a Wimbledon semi-final - they rose by 13,260.

Professor Jacky Boivin, an expert in health psychology at Cardiff University, said: "If Britain wins lots of golds at the Olympics, this could create a mood of euphoria and make people more likely to have sex.

"People could also be encouraged to get more fit, making them feel more attractive and boosting their libido, leading to more sex."

Dr Cath Mercer, a lecturer at University College London's Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, said the long Jubilee holiday weekend could also fuel the birth rate. "Anything which gives people the time to relax and have sex could lead to a baby boom."