Stop asking about babies: Women hate that question.

Why should Jen Hawkins have to give a reason for not having a baby? (Source: Instagram.)

A headline caught my eye recently. It read: “Jennifer Hawkins, 31, says she has ‘no plans’ to start a family with husband Jake Wall and remains focused on work”.

“There’s no plans yet, I’m just having fun with life at the moment,” Hawkins told The Daily Telegraph in regards to future babies.

Interestingly, Hawkins was then referred to as a “career-focused” woman and a list of her business engagements was then rattled off. It was as though her childless state required a reason, and despite Jen not explicitly saying it, it was decided upon that “work commitments” must be the culprit.

The constant “when are you having children?” question needs to stop. Chrissy Teigen and Tyra Banks agree. Last week they both revealed their struggles with fertility on TV show FABLife.

“I will say honestly John and I were having trouble. We would have had kids five, six years ago if it happened,” explained Teigen who went on to reveal that she and husband John Legend have visited fertility doctors.

“It’s kind of crazy because I can’t imagine being that nosy to be like, ‘So, when are the kids coming?’ because who knows what somebody’s going through.”

Chrissy Teigen (left) discusses her fertility on "FABLife".

“So anytime somebody asks if I'm going to have kids I'm just like, 'One day you're going to ask that to the wrong girl who is really struggling and it's going to be really hurtful to them and I hate that. Stop asking me.’”

Consider yourself warned. Banks, 41, revealed that she too abhors questions about her fertility.

“I'm so tired of seeing on my social media, ‘why don't you have kids, why don't you have kids?’ You don't know, you don't know what I'm going through. You have no idea,” Tyra said.

What Banks is going through is multiple rounds of IVF, which would no doubt be physically and emotionally draining.

The message that Tyra Banks posted to her Instagram today.

Banks uploaded the above image to Instagram, in which she implored others to #StopAsking.

"I can’t believe so many of you out there can totally relate. Truth is, there are so many of us that keep getting asked that baby question and people just don't realise it hurts to constantly be asked," she wrote in the caption.

"Many of us really want kids and when you find out you can’t have children or that maybe you can, but the journey is just so damn hard, the one thing that seems like the most natural thing in the world becomes so very unnatural and so very taxing."

"You never know what someone may be going through. So you know what? Let’s #StopAsking," says Tyra Banks. (Source: Instagram.)

There's a time, place and person for those baby questions. If you’re a close friend or family member, then go ahead and ask – sensitively, of course. But if you don’t know the person?

Just let them do their thing and support them in whatever they’re doing. And if they have baby news, they’ll be happy to tell us.

Do you hate being asked "the question"? Or are you guilty of asking it?

Popular forms of birth control

DiaphragmLike the male condom, the diaphragm is a barrier method of contraception. It's a shallow silicone dome that's inserted into the vagina andcovers the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus. It's held in place by the pelvic muscles, and works by preventing sperm from entering the uterus. After sex, diaphragms need to remain in placefor another six hours, in which time the sperm inside the vagina die. This method is 88 to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy, although this rate increases with experience.

Vaginal ringVaginal rings are soft plastic rings that contain the same two hormones as the combined pill - oestrogen and progestogen. The ring is inserted into the vagina, where the hormones are absorbed into the body and then prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. Once inside the ring can't be felt, and it needs replacing every three weeks (with one week's break in between). When used correctly, this method is more than 99% effective.

Depo ProveraDepo is a long lasting hormonal injection. The synthetic form of progesterone is administered every 12 to 14 weeks to woman, preventing pregnancy within this ongoing time period. The injection, which is given in the buttock or muscle of the upper arm, prevents ovulation and thickens the mucus in the cervix, helping to block sperm. The injections are 99 per cent effective but do not protect against STDs. Male contraceptive injections are currently being trialled

The morning after pillEmergency contraception (popularly referred to as the morning after pill) is used to prevent a pregnancy following unprotected sex. Other reasons include missing a contraceptive pill or a condom breaking. It is common in Australia to use the progestogen-only method. This entails a dosage of EC pills containing progestogen or the synthetic version. A doctor can prescribe the pill or they can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy without a prescription. Emergency contraceptionis 85 per cent effective in reducing the risk of pregnancy.

Birth control implantThis is a 4cm-longimplant that is inserted into a woman's upper arm, just under the skin, by a doctor. It releases a hormone called etonogestrel, which prevents ovulation and thickens the mucus in the cervix, which can stop sperm from entering. Contraceptive implants - usually sold as Implanon - are removed under anaesthetic every three years, and are close to 100% effective.

Contraceptive pillThe Pillis the most popular form of birth control. There are two types: the combined pill, containing two hormones, and theprogestogen-only, or mini, pill, which only contains one female hormone. The combined pill works by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg each month. The mini pill changes the mucus at the entrance of the uterus, which stops sperm from entering. Both are 99.7% effective; however, they don't offer protection from STDs.

CondomsThe male condom is a barrier contraception that prevents both pregnancy and the transmission of STDs. They work by collecting semen so it doesn't enter theman's partner's body. Condoms are 95 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

SterilisationSterilisation is a permanent form of contraception. For women there are two types of sterilisation: tubal ligation, in which clips are placed on the fallopian tubes, or tubal occlusion in which a device is inserted into the tubes. These methods work by preventing the sperm from reaching the egg. Tubal litigation is 99.5 per cent effective. The Vasectomy (for men) works by cutting and blocking the tubes called the vas deferens, preventing sperm from leaving the testicles. The chances of impregnation with a vasectomy are 1 in 1000.

Intrauterine deviceIUDs are small, T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus by a doctor in order to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of IUD: copper, which affects the movement and survival of sperm in the womb while changing the lining of the womb;and hormonal, which releases progestogen (a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring hormone progesterone) into the uterus. Although IUDs have a success rate of more than 99%, only around 2% of Australian women currently use one.

The female condomThe female condom is a pre-lubricated sheath, which loosely fits inside of the vagina. The condom has a removable ring, which helps to insert the sheath and keep the condom in place. A larger ring remains on the outside to cover the opening of the vagina. They are designed to fit all women and can only to be used once. Due to misuse of the product it is only 79 per cent effective.

Please, #StopAsking women about their baby plans.

My Summer Vagina & Emotional Regulation

Popular forms of birth control