Twins: Is it possible to influence the probability of having such children?

In ancient times, the birth of twins was also a rarity. Herbalists and healers claimed that such a thing could not happen without the intervention of higher powers. Therefore, the birth of two or more babies was considered an omen, which was interpreted depending on the situation.

It is important to know that multiple pregnancies are far from uncommon. But in most cases, one of the fetuses dies and dissolves in the early stages.

Modern medicine has identified most of the factors that influence the birth of two identical babies. The mechanism of this phenomenon is explained quite simply. A child is born after the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. Usually, only one cell matures in a woman during the menstrual cycle, the fertilization of which leads to the birth of one child. But in some cases, the zygote (diploid cell) is divided into several organisms with similar genetic material.

What affects the probability of having twins?

Almost all the conditions under which multiple fetuses are conceived in the womb are known to science. But only sources that relate to fraternal twins have been studied. The appearance of identical babies usually comes as a complete surprise. Here are the main "risk factors":

1. Taking medications. The probability of having twins increases significantly if a woman suddenly stops taking contraceptives. The body begins to produce a large amount of gonadotropin, a hormone that stimulates ovulation. A similar effect is also observed in the treatment of infertility. In this case, drug therapy provokes rapid growth of the egg or its division.
2. In vitro fertilization. The essence of this procedure is the implantation of several eggs into the uterus at once. This significantly increases the chance of successful motherhood. But it is important to remember that often carrying two or three fetuses is very difficult for the mother, and after birth such babies may be weakened or even non-viable.
3. Genetic predisposition. Heredity is the most common factor influencing the appearance of several babies. If there are precedents of such births on the maternal line, then the probability of recurrence of twins increases several times. This dependence is especially often noticed when combining the genes of parents who have a predisposition to multiple pregnancies.
4. Place of residence and nationality. Such a dependence does not yet have a reliable explanation. But statistics indicate that black women have twins much more often than white or Asian women. For example, in Cameroon, the birth of several children with similar genes occurs in 4-5% of cases, and in China - only 0.8%.
5. Age of the mother. When studying the medical records of expectant mothers, it was noted that the minimum chances of conceiving twins are in women under 18 years old, and the maximum - at 35 years old. Previously, it was assumed that the older the representative of the fair half, the higher the "risk" of multiple pregnancy. But scientists have proven that after forty, the likelihood of conceiving twins decreases again.
6. Nutrition. The diet of the expectant mother is also considered a probable cause of the appearance of genetically similar babies. Malnutrition, a strict diet or an unbalanced menu significantly reduce the likelihood of having twins.

Today, there are more than 70 million pairs of twins in the world. And the proportion of births of such babies is constantly growing. There is no need to be afraid of such a phenomenon, just as there is no need to artificially increase the likelihood of multiple pregnancies.

The myths that the possibility of having twins or triplets is affected by poor ecology, urbanization or an abundance of household chemicals in the house are absolutely groundless. Nature itself will decide when and to whom to give double joy.