8 Factors That Increase Your Chances of Having Twins

If you think you want to double your fun with two babies instead of one, there are a few factors that could increase your chances of conceiving twins. In fact, conceiving twins is becoming more common than ever. According to the CDC, the number of twin births has almost doubled in the past 40 years.

More: Do twins run in families? A genetic explanation

If you are wondering how to conceive twins, there are a number of factors that can contribute to a woman's chances of conceiving twins. We'll look at what some of these are and how twin pregnancies develop.

How do twin pregnancies work?

Twin pregnancies develop when either two separate eggs are fertilized or when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos, resulting in two types of twins.

A woman can expect identical twins when the fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos. These embryos are called monozygotic because they have identical genes. Identical twins are always of the same sex and look very similar. The odds of having identical twins are pretty low at only 3-4 per 1,000 births.

Fraternal twins, or dizygotic twins, occur when there are two egg cells in the womb and sperm fertilize both. These are referred to as fraternal. They do not have the same genes and may not be of the same sex. Fraternal twins are more commonly seen in women who are having a twin pregnancy.

8 factors that can contribute to your chances of having twins

While a woman's chances of having twins will vary, there are several circumstances that could make you consider buying two car seats instead of one.

Family history of twins

If twins run in your family, your chances of conceiving twins may be greater than for a woman with no family history. But there's a catch.

"Paternal lineage doesn't seem to increase risk," says Sara Twogood, MD, a registered OB/GYN in Los Angeles and co-founder of Female Health Education and the online magazine Female Health Collective.

This means that if twins walk on the mother's side, you may have a greater chance of having twins. One reason for this may be hyperovulation. This is when the body releases two or more eggs during ovulation. The genes for this can be inherited. Check your family history on your mother's page to see if twins are a thing. If so, don't be surprised if you later conceive twins.

fertility treatments

Fertility treatments are also high on the list of factors that can increase a woman's chances of having twins.

Twogood tells family upbringing Enhancement treatments like IVF, ovulation induction, and superovulation with fertility drugs like Clomid or Femara can increase the chances of twins.

Fraternal twins are common when a woman uses in vitro fertilization (IVF). This type of fertility treatment often involves placing two fertilized embryos in the uterus to increase the chance of pregnancy. If both embryos successfully implant and develop, twins are born.

With IVF, the chance of twin pregnancy is 12 percent for women under the age of 35 and 9 percent for women aged 35 to 37.

In addition to IVF, there is a procedure known as intrauterine insemination (IUI). Women can choose to do this when trying to conceive, but it usually doesn't increase the chances of having twins like IVF does.

With IUI, women are given drugs like Clomid or Femara to stimulate the ovaries. These can help a woman produce more than one egg at a time. The sperm is placed directly into the uterus so that it can get closer to the egg. If two or more are fertilized and implant, twins can result.

There are also gonadotropins. This is a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that helps the egg follicles grow. These are commonly used during IUI and other fertility treatments. This can increase the twin rate by 30 percent.

Age

A woman's age at pregnancy can also affect her chances of having twins.

"Ages 35 and older appear to be at increased risk," says Twogood.

At this age, females tend to release more than one egg during their reproductive cycle than younger females. This is due to hormonal changes that occur near menopause. When sperm fertilize more than one egg, you have twins.

diet

A woman's diet can also lead to a higher chance of having twins. Some research suggests that women who don't have dairy in their diet and consider themselves vegan may increase their chances of having twins. This can be attributed to the growth hormones found in milk, which may play a role in reproduction.

There is also some belief that yams may increase a woman's chances of having twins. This study was conducted in Nigeria, where the twinning rate is the highest in the world. The findings are based on the assumption that yams contain a natural hormone, phytoestrogen, that can stimulate multiple ovulations, resulting in twins.

height

Do taller women have a greater chance of having twins? That depends on who you ask. One study found that women with an average height of 5ft 5in had a greater chance of having multiple births than women who were slightly shorter.

Weight

When it comes to how to get pregnant with twins, weight is considered along with height.

"Obesity increases the likelihood of having twins, and other correlations with diet are being studied," says Twogood.

A 2005 study found that women with a BMI of 30 or more were more likely to have twins than women with a lower BMI. Women are not encouraged to try to gain weight to increase their chances of having twins. Obesity during pregnancy can negatively affect your pregnancy.

racial background

A woman's ethnic background can also affect a woman's chances of conceiving twins. CDC statistics show that rates of twin pregnancies are higher in African American women than in white women. Also, Asian and Hispanic women tend to have lower rates of twin pregnancies than women in other groups.

take dietary supplements

Taking certain supplements may affect whether you buy one crib or two.

"Some studies suggest that increasing amounts of folic acid may increase the risk of having twins," says Twogood.

All pregnant women are encouraged to take folic acid to support a baby's brain development. Folic acid can help reduce the chance of neural tube effects like spina bifida.

breastfeeding

Can Breastfeeding Increase Your Chances Of Having Twins? it depends who you ask. A 2006 study found that women who breastfeed had an 11 percent chance of having twins, compared to just 1 percent of women who didn't breastfeed. It is important to know that not only can women get pregnant while breastfeeding, but they can also get pregnant with twins.

take that away

When it comes to conceiving twins, it's important to be aware of the factors that can increase your chances. In addition to infertility treatments and genetics, other things like diet, height, and weight can also play a role. Understanding these and knowing your odds can help you determine if you need a car seat or two! Learn about the day in the life of a mother with twins.

By: 8 Factors That Increase Your Chances of Having Twins