Increasing Your Chances of Twins
If you are eager to add to your family, you may be hoping that your next pregnancy will be twins. After all, there is nothing like having two little babies at once! There has long been a fascination with twins and multiple births, and many couples would cherish the chance to welcome twins into the world. If you are longing for twins, than you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to increase your chances of conceiving multiples.
What Are Twins?
Most of us are familiar with the concept of twins – when two babies are born at once – but few of us actually know how twins develop. Typically, a woman releases one egg from her ovaries during ovulation. This egg is then fertilized by one sperm from her partner, and this creates an embryo. This embryo then continues to divide until a baby is formed. Twins develop when there is a change in the regular process of fertilization or division.
Identical Twins
Identical twins form when there is a change in the regular process of embryo division. If after fertilization, the embryo splits into two, identical twins are created. Identical twins share 100% of their DNA, which means they will share the same sex and appearance. Identical twins are also called monozygotic twins.
Fraternal Twins
Sometimes a woman releases two eggs from her ovaries instead of just one. When these eggs are fertilized by two different sperm, two fetuses develop. These are known as fraternal twins. Fraternal twins share 50% of their DNA and, unlike identical twins, do not necessarily look similar in appearance. Fraternal twins, sometime referred to as dizygotic twins can be of the opposite sex.
How Common are Twins?
Twin pregnancies are actually more common then most people think. About 3% of babies born in the United States are twins or higher-order multiple births (such as triplets). This means that every woman has about a 3% chance of naturally conceiving and giving birth to a set of twins. Fraternal twins are much more common than identical twins, with identical twins accounting for only 0.4% of all births. Higher-order multiple births are much less common, with triplets occurring naturally in only 1 out of 8,000 births.
Multiplying Multiples!
In the past two decades, there has actually been a dramatic rise in the number of twin and multiple births. Since 1980, the number of twin births has increased by 74%. The number of higher-order multiple births has also skyrocketed, with triplets being born 400 times more often! This dramatic increase in twin births seems to be attributable to the more frequent and successful use of fertility drugs.
Factors that Influence Twins
Twins can occur naturally in any woman at any time. However, there are certain factors that increase your chances of having twins. These factors include:
- Family History: Having a maternal history of twins or other multiple births increases your chance of becoming pregnant with twins considerably.
- Cultural Background: People of African American descent are more likely to have twins or multiple births. People of Asian or Hispanic descent are less likely to have twins.
- Age: Your chances of having twins increases as you grow older. Women produce more ovulation-stimulating hormone as they age, increasing your chance of releasing more than one egg during ovulation. The chance of having twins rises to 4% between the ages of 30 and 34, and to 5% between the ages of 35 and 39.
- Previous Twins: If you’ve already had twins, it is more likely that you will have another twin pregnancy.
- Previous Pregnancies: Women who have had four or more previous pregnancies are the most likely to have twins.
- Fertility Drugs: Taking fertility drugs or undergoing fertility treatments can significantly increase your chances of having twins or another type of multiple birth. In some cases, women can increase their chances of having twins up to 20%.
- Weight Gain: A study by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology linked the recent rise in multiple births with the steady rise of obesity in North America. Women with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are more likely to have twins than those in the suggested BMI range of 19 to 25.
Increasing Your Chances of Having Twins
So, are there any proven methods to increase your chances of having twins? Well, there are a number of ways that you can go about trying to have twins, but, as with anything, there are no guarantees. Having twins is mostly down to luck, although there are a few things you can do to help Lady Luck along.
Focus on Nutrition
Women who are well nourished are more likely to have twins or multiple births. So focus on eating well and eating enough to maintain a healthy weight.
Eat Yams
Yams, a type of sweet potato, have also been linked with multiple births. A tribe in Africa whose diet consists mostly of yams was recently found to have exceptionally high rates of twins and multiple births. Yams are thought to contain chemicals that stimulate hyperovulation, increasing your chances of conceiving twins.
Try Fertility Drugs
Though not recommended unless you are suffering from fertility issues, fertility drugs do seem to greatly increase your chances of having twins. The fertility drug clomiphene (Clomid) increases your likelihood to 8%, while menotropins (Pergonal) increases your likelihood to 18%. Fertility drugs do cause side effects though and should never be taken without the supervision of a medical doctor.
Try Fertility Treatments
Fertility treatments are also associated with higher rates of multiple births. In-vitro fertilization involves implanting more than one embryo into your uterus, which means your are more likely to conceive twins or higher-order multiples. Like fertility drugs, fertility treatments should not be undergone without approval from a medical doctor and are usually reserved for couples who are having difficulties conceiving.
