People over 30, and particularly those over age 35, are more likely to conceive twins. 4 This is because the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rises as birthing parents get older. FSH is responsible for the development of eggs in the ovaries before they are released.
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.
You're an older mom-to-be
As you age, your chance of conceiving twins increases. Researchers have found that women over 35 produce more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) than younger women, which may cause more than one egg to drop at ovulation.
Family history – Twins tend to be more common in some families. There may be an underlying genetic factor that predisposes a woman to release more than one egg at a time, which increases the chance of having twins.
However, for a given pregnancy, only the mother's genetics matter. Fraternal twins happen when two eggs are simultaneously fertilized instead of just one. A father's genes can't make a woman release two eggs.
Women are more likely to conceive fraternal twins once they reach their 30s as a result of an evolutionary response to combat declining embryo viability, according to a new international collaboration involving researchers at UWA.
6.9 percent in women age 35 to 37. 6.8 percent in women age 38 to 40. 5.1 percent in women age 41 to 42. 5.9 percent in women age 43 and above.
Everyone has the same chance of having identical twins: about 1 in 250. Identical twins do not run in families. But there are some factors that make having non-identical twins more likely: non-identical twins are more common in some ethnic groups, with the highest rate among Nigerians and the lowest among Japanese.
Foods naturally rich in folic acid like avocado, spinach, broccoli, liver, and legumes also have the tendency to increase one's chances of conceiving twins. According to a study, consuming extra folic acid while trying to get pregnant can raise the chance of giving birth to twins slightly higher.
Assisted reproduction
They increase fertility by stimulating egg production. If more eggs are produced, the chances that more than one egg will be released during ovulation also increase. Among the common ways to get pregnant with twins is through fertility treatment such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Clomiphene and gonadotropins are commonly used fertility drugs that can increase your chances of having twins. Clomiphene is a medication available only through prescription. In the United States, the brand names for the drug are Clomid and Serophene.
Folate: Folate has been found in studies to have a 40% increase in twin pregnancies. Although, this appears to be aimed at females who have had IVF treatments. Increasing folic acid (about 400 – 1000 micrograms a day) is also a natural way to get pregnant with twins.
Is there a third type? Traditionally, the science around twins has taught that identical and fraternal are the only two types. But a third type might exist, called polar body or half-identical twins.
The likelihood of conceiving twins is a complex trait, meaning that it is affected by multiple genetic and environmental factors, depending on the type of twins. The two types of twins are classified as monozygotic and dizygotic.
While men can carry the gene and pass it on to their daughters, a family history of twins doesn't make them any more likely to have twins themselves. 3 But, if a father passes on the "twin gene" to his daughter, then she may have a higher chance than normal of having fraternal twins.
Like you, more women than ever before are having babies later in life. But as an older mom-to be, you may be concerned about the increased risk for problems during pregnancy. Rest assured, most healthy women from age 35 on into their 40s have healthy babies. So try not to focus on your age.
After age 35, there's a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery. The risk of chromosomal conditions is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher.
By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline becomes more rapid once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely for most women.
A big reason for all those twins is an increase in medically assisted reproduction, including in vitro fertilization, ovarian stimulation and artificial insemination. Another reason is that women in many countries are having babies at older ages.
Both results were statistically significant. Moms of twins also were older at the time of their last birth. The age at last birth averaged 39.7 years for women born before 1870, and 36.2 years for women born during 1870-1899. Moms of twins had their last births 4.8 months later and 14 months later, respectively.
In fact, one British study tested ESP potential among identical twins and found that they were correct about 25% of the time, the same as any other siblings. There is one particular power though which twins possess, longevity. Fraternal twins live longer than singletons and identical twins longer still.
Monoamniotic-monochorionic Twins
This is the rarest type of twin, and it means a riskier pregnancy as the babies can get tangled in their own umbilical cords.
The Science of Fraternal Twins. Mixed-gender twins are the most common type of fraternals, some 50 percent are boy-girl.
A twin pregnancy with two placentas and two amniotic sacs is the optimal twin pregnancy, as each baby has its own nutritional source and protective membrane. One placenta and two amniotic sacs.