How to have a twin babies

Factors, odds, and improving your chances

There are many myths about how to improve the odds of having twins. Although there are no proven ways to increase the likelihood of conceiving twins, there are certain factors that can make this type of pregnancy more likely.

Twins can occur either when two separate eggs become fertilized in the womb or when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos.

Having twins is more common now than it was in the past. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), twin births have nearly doubled over the last 40 years.

A woman has a higher chance of having twins if she conceives with the assistance of fertility treatment or is aged 35 years or over. In the United States, fertility treatments account for more than one-third of twin pregnancies.

In this article, we explore why twin pregnancies occur, how common they are, and factors that can make them more likely. We also explain whether a person can increase their chance of having twins.

Share on PinterestA woman may be more likely to have twins, depending on age, family history, and fertility treatments.

Doctors do not fully understand the reasons why twin pregnancies sometimes occur. However, some factors can increase the likelihood of giving birth to twins, including:

the woman’s age
having a family history of twins
having fertility treatments

Conception happens when a sperm fertilizes an egg to form an embryo. However, if there are two eggs present in the womb at the time of fertilization or the fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos, a woman can become pregnant with twins.

There are two types of twin:

Identical twins: This type of pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos. These embryos are monozygotic, which means that they have identical genes. Identical twins are the same sex as each other and look very alike.
Nonidentical, or fraternal, twins: This type of pregnancy occurs when there are two eggs present in the womb at the time of fertilization, and sperm fertilize both of them. These embryos are dizygotic, which means that they do not have identical genes and may not be the same sex.

Fraternal twins are common after fertility treatment because healthcare professionals often place two fertilized embryos into a woman’s womb to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Twins are relatively uncommon. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), only approximately one in 250 pregnancies results in twins.

However, the birth of twins has increased significantly alongside the rise in the use of fertility treatments and with more women choosing to have children at a later age. Since 1980, the birth rate of twins has increased by more than 75 percent.

A woman is more likely to have fraternal twins than identical twins. Identical twins account for only about one-third of multiple pregnancies.

Several factors can increase the likelihood of a woman conceiving twins. These include:

Family history

A woman has a slightly higher chance of having twins if she has a family history of twins. A family history of twins on the mother’s side increases this likelihood more than a family history on the father’s side. However, this only applies if conception takes place without the use of fertility treatments.

According to the ASRM, women who are themselves nonidentical twins produce twins in around 1 in every 60 births. For men who are nonidentical twins, the chance of conceiving twins is only 1 in every 125 births.

Some people believe that twins can skip a generation, meaning that a person will potentially have twins if one of their grandparents did. However, there is little evidence to support this theory.

Fertility treatment

The ASRM note that the main factor that increases the chance of having twins is the use of fertility treatments. The various types of fertility treatment available increase the likelihood of twins in different ways.

Some fertility drugs work by stimulating a woman’s ovaries, which can sometimes cause them to release more than one egg. If sperm fertilizes both of these eggs, this can result in twins.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) can also increase the chance of conceiving twins.

Healthcare professionals carry out IVF by extracting a woman’s eggs and fertilizing them with a donor’s sperm in a laboratory to produce an embryo. They then transfer the fertilized embryo into the woman’s womb.

To increase the likelihood of success, the healthcare professional may place more than one embryo into the womb. Twins can occur if both embryos implant and develop successfully.

Multiple pregnancies carry additional risks, so the healthcare professional will usually limit the number of embryos that they transfer to the woman’s womb to reduce the chance of a pregnancy with twins, triplets, or more.

Age

According to the Office on Women’s Health, women who are aged 30 years or older are more likely to conceive twins. The reason for this is that women of this age are more likely than younger women to release more than one egg during their reproductive cycle. If sperm fertilizes two separate eggs, a twin pregnancy can occur.

Height and weight

The ASRM report that nonidentical twins are slightly more common in taller or heavier women than they are in small women. The reasons for this are not clear, but it may be due to better nutrition. Women with a higher body weight may have more resources available for a developing fetus.

Racial background

In the U.S., Hispanic women are less likely to have twins than non-Hispanic white women or black women, according to the ASRM.

Share on PinterestFertility treatments can increase the chance of having twins.

There are many unproven claims about how to increase the likelihood of conceiving twins. Some people advise following specific diets or using certain alternative therapies, but there is no scientific evidence to support these methods.

Fertility treatments, particularly IVF and ovary stimulants, do increase the chances of having twins. However, a twin pregnancy is riskier for both the woman and the developing fetuses. For this reason, some fertility clinics advise against implanting multiple embryos during IVF treatment.

The CDC recommend that younger women who are having their first fertility treatment select just one embryo for transfer to their womb.

As the success of fertility treatment is improving, there is often less need to transfer more than one embryo. In the U.S., the number of IVF treatments involving the transfer of three or four embryos decreased significantly between 2007 and 2016. Transferring just one or two embryos reduces the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy.

A twin pregnancy increases the risk of:

premature birth
low birth weight
stillbirth
disabilities at birth and congenital health conditions, such as cerebral palsy and autism
preeclampsia
diabetes during pregnancy
cesarean delivery
needing bed rest while pregnant

Although certain factors increase the chance of having twins, there is no way to improve the odds of having twins naturally. A woman will usually find out that she is pregnant with twins from an ultrasound early on in the pregnancy.

Some symptoms may indicate a twin pregnancy, including more intense morning sickness and very rapid weight gain. Regular medical appointments will improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Twin Pregnancy - Tips On How To Get Twins

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Always wanted to have twins? Click here to find out how to have twins and what are your possibilities of getting a twin.

How to have twins

The idea of having twins tends to polarise people. Some couples say they’d love the chance to parent two babies and others react in an entirely different way. If you are a twin or have twin siblings, then your concept of the reality is likely to be very different to someone who’s never had anything to do with more than one baby at a time.

Are twins common?

Many reproductive experts believe that as humans we probably have more twin pregnancies than any of us are aware of. Technological advances have found that it is reasonably common for there to be more than one embryo conceived and implanted, but of these, only one is viable and survives.

How do twins happen?

If you are keen to increase your chances of conceiving two babies, then it’s important to understand how twins are made.

There are two types of twins; identical and non-identical. Identical or monozygotic twins are formed when one egg is fertilized by one sperm which then divides into two separate embryos. Each shares exactly the same genetic components and identical genetic structures. Identical twins also share a placenta.

Non-identical or dizygotic twins form from two separate eggs being fertilised by two separate sperm. These twins are their own unique little individuals and share no more genetic composition than siblings with the same parents. Each baby in a non-identical twin pair will have its own placenta.

Another name for non-identical twins is fraternal; the other name for identical twins is non-fraternal.

What about twins in families?

Twins do run in families. But the genetic predisposition for having twins only applies to the mother. It is her family history which influences the chances of her having hyper ovulation.

Any woman can have identical twins and family history does not play a role with these.

The majority of twins who are born are non-identical and a result of two eggs being fertilised.

Some fraternal twins look very similar; others share some resemblance whilst the remainder may not even look the slightest bit related.

What will help boost my chances of having twins?

Being older rather than younger helps. It seems to be a twist of nature that just before a woman enters peri-menopause, her ovaries start releasing more than one egg each month. This “fertility spike” is also influenced by a surge of oestrogen. Fertility research has proven that twin pregnancies are much more common in women who are over 35 years. But this only applies to non-identical twins.
Have fertility assistance such as in vitro fertilisation or take fertility drugs. These stimulate the ovaries to support more than one ovarian follicle each month towards maturity. The result is that more than one egg is released.
Pick your own genetics carefully! Though we all know this is impossible. But if you come from a family where non-identical twins are common then your family history and genetic endowment means that you’ve got a greater chance of having them yourself. But identical twins can occur in any family.
Be of African/American heritage. Women from this ethnic background have a distinctly higher rate of twin pregnancies.
Having been pregnant before. Women who have previously had a baby or two have a higher chance of conceiving with twins.
Have a big family. This theory is based on pure maths; the more times you conceive the greater the likelihood of conceiving more than one baby.
Get pregnant while you are on the pill. Difficult as this can be overall, there is a higher incidence of women conceiving with twins when they are on oral contraceptives.>
Try to conceive straight after you have stopped taking the pill. The theory is that for the first couple of cycles the woman’s body is going through a hormonal readjustment phase.
Already have a set of twins. Because the likelihood of conceiving with twins again is higher in women who’ve already had them.
Be heavier rather than lighter so that you’ve got a higher body mass index (BMI). Some researchers claim that a woman with a BMI of greater than 30 boosts her chances. But considering a healthy range during the fertile years is 20-25 and 30 would put you into the overweight/obese category then this is not a healthy recommendation.
Taller women tend to conceive more twins.
Take a folic acid supplement before you conceive. The general recommendation for women who are planning to conceive is to start taking folic acid supplements one month before conception.
Encourage your partner to eat some oysters. The urban myth about oysters being an aphrodisiac is not entirely without basis. Oysters are high in zinc and this helps with sperm production. The healthier and more mobile his sperm are, the greater the likelihood of being able to fertilise an egg or two. If he’s keen to take supplements, the recommendation for men in their fertile years is 14mg/day. Green leafy vegetables, cereals, bread, seeds and wheat germ are all excellent sources of zinc.
Be a twin yourself. Mothers who are twins are more likely to have twin babies. There is no influence on the male partner’s side, only the mothers. But it does seem that fathers may pass the twin gene onto their daughters for their future conception possibilities.
Eat more yams/sweet potatoes. It is a fact that more women conceive with twins who live in areas where yams are a major component of their diet. It seems that a naturally occurring chemical component of the yams helps to support ovarian function.
Keep breastfeeding your older baby or toddler. Women who are producing prolactin and breastfeeding are more likely to conceive with twins. Though some women do not resume regular ovulation and menstrual cycles for the entire time they are breastfeeding; this is very individual.

What’s fact and what’s fiction when having twins?

The idea that conceiving twins skips a generation is not true. Although there can appear to be a pattern in some families of this happening, the odds of having identical twins is the same for every woman.
Eating a diet which is high in dairy foods, milk and meat is said to help, especially at the time of ovulation. But there is no scientific evidence to support this.
Alternative therapies do not increase the likelihood. There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that acupuncture, naturopathy, aromatherapy, chiropractic or flower essences increase the likelihood of having twins.

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How to conceive twins naturally: table, folk remedies

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To answer the question of how to conceive twins or twins, you need to understand the mechanism of these phenomena. The difference between twins and twins is simple: identical twins, similar to each other, like two drops of water, are children born from one fertilized egg, which divides into two after fertilization, and twins appear with the simultaneous fertilization of two eggs at once, while children may be of different sexes and not at all similar to each other. It should be noted that nature has a mechanism that levels the birth of twins, since it is more difficult to endure and grow it. But there are various factors that contribute to the simultaneous maturation of two eggs, due to which the conception of twins occurs. It is impossible to plan the pregnancy of identical twins, just as it is impossible to give an absolute guarantee of the conception of twins, but it is quite possible to provoke the simultaneous maturation of two eggs. nine0003

Factors affecting the possibility of having twins:

heredity - the probability of conceiving twins is higher in those women in whose family there have already been multiple pregnancies;
overweight - it is noted that twins are more often born precisely in obese women;
age over 30 - the body can provoke the maturation of several follicles at once to increase the likelihood of conception; nine0003
the onset of pregnancy during lactation increases the possibility of conceiving twins;
with each subsequent pregnancy, the chances of having twins increase;
mother's ethnicity - not at all puzzled over how to conceive twins, African women give birth to several children at once much more often than everyone else. But the least likely multiple pregnancy occurs in Asian women. nine0003

What factors influence the conception of a boy or a girl, read also in our articles.

How to Increase Your Chances of Having Twins Naturally

First of all, you should consult with your doctor, perhaps he will advise what to do to conceive twins. It is better to prepare for this conversation: bring medical records (yours and your partner), find out in advance what diseases relatives on both sides suffer from and whether there were multiple pregnancies in the female line. nine0003

You may be lucky and your doctor will be able to give you a magic table on how to conceive twins, or teach you how to conceive twins by ovulation.

Among the medical methods that a doctor can also advise is treatment with drugs that include follicle-stimulating hormone, as a result of which two eggs can mature at the same time. Moreover, after the abolition of hormonal contraceptives, the so-called rebound effect is observed, when both ovaries are put into operation at once and twins can be conceived. nine0003

Also, do not forget about artificial insemination, when two or three fertilized eggs are implanted in a woman at once.

There are folk ways to conceive twins. First of all, the recommendations relate to nutrition designed to promote the maturation of more follicles. You will have to lean on dairy products, chicken eggs, whole grains, walnuts, pumpkin, bananas, carrots, red fish, liver. Try to find a product such as yams, which contain a set of substances that stimulate the ovaries. The largest number of twins is born in the Igbo city of Orana in southwestern Nigeria, for which it is even called the "Land of the Twins". The main food of the population there is yams. nine0003

A prerequisite to conceive twins is to give up alcohol and smoking.

To activate the work of the ovaries, you can start taking folic acid daily a few months before the planned conception, after consulting with your doctor.

It has been established that most twins are born in July, and least of all in the first month of winter. This may be due to the length of daylight hours, which affects the release of follicle-stimulating hormone. Therefore, conception is best planned for the fall. nine0003

Climate can also indirectly affect - long daylight hours, high humidity, solar activity activate the ovaries. Therefore, you can plan a month-long vacation to a suitable place to increase your chances.

An interesting established fact is that twins are born four times more often in women who are already mothers of twins. Therefore, it is worth giving birth to twins only once, as the next time it will be easier to adjust.

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Birth of twins: what is the probability? | PHARMACY

Twins, or dizygotic twins, are born when 2 different eggs are fertilized by 2 different sperm at the same time. Identical twins, or homozygous twins, give birth if 1 egg is fertilized by 1 sperm and then divides, forming 2 embryos. Identical twin births occur around the world with approximately the same frequency of 3-4 cases per 1000 births, the frequency of birth of dizygotic twins varies significantly around the world, from 6 cases per 1000 births in Asia to 40 cases per 1000 births in Africa. nine0003

Scientists believe that the birth of twins is based on a genetic component, but the details of this relationship have not been sufficiently studied before. In a new study, scientists from the Free University of Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit), the Netherlands, have identified 2 gene variants associated with the birth of dizygotic twins.

The results of the study are relevant for the European population, since the population of Asia and Africa may have additional gene variants, the scientists note. nine0003

Until now, researchers have not been able to analyze in detail some of the factors that likely increase a woman's chances of having twins. For example, women who became mothers in adulthood and those who had relatives who gave birth to twins were more likely to have dizygotic twins than other females. Therefore, the researchers decided to analyze the genes responsible for the birth of twins. They started by collecting genetic information from databases in the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States. As a result, they identified 1980 mothers of twins conceived without infertility treatment and compared their genome with that of 12,953 women from the control group who did not give birth to dizygotic twins.

After searching for and isolating the genetic variants that distinguish mothers from the two groups, the scientists sent the results to their colleagues in Iceland, who conducted a similar study on 3,597 mothers who gave birth to dizygotic twins and 297,348 women from the control group.

This allowed us to identify 2 gene variants that appeared more often in mothers of twins than in mothers who gave birth to 1 child. One gene variant is associated with increased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in women, and also plays an important role in reproductive function in men.