Seeing double: What are the chances of having twins
Think you’ve got a chance of having twins? Here’s what can increase your odds of seeing double.
Two babies, one pregnancy and double the nappies, cuddles and chaos. But just how likely is it to conceive twins? From family history and age to fertility treatments and the type of twins, there are a few factors that can influence your chances of seeing double.
In Australia, twins are born in one out of every 80 births, which means one in 40 Australians is a twin.
But some women are more likely to conceive twins than others. According to Better Health Channel, factors that can boost your chances include:
- Age: Women over 30 naturally produce more oestrogen, which can lead to the release of more than one egg during ovulation.
- Number of previous pregnancies: The more you’ve had, the greater the odds.
- Family history: If fraternal twins run in your family (especially on the mother’s side), your chances increase.
- Race: Black African women have the highest rates of twinning; Asian women the lowest.
- Fertility treatment: Medications or IVF that stimulate ovulation can result in multiple eggs or embryos being released or implanted.
Identical vs. Fraternal Twins: What’s the difference?
Fraternal twins happen when two separate eggs are fertilised by two separate sperm. They can be the same or opposite sex, and genetically they’re no more alike than any other siblings. They usually have separate placentas and sacs, and make up about 70% of all twin births in Australia.
Identical twins, on the other hand, come from a single fertilised egg that splits in two. They share the same DNA, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll look exactly alike – environment plays a part too. You might hear them called monozygotic twins, and they may share or have separate placentas depending on when the egg split.
Expecting twins?
Most twin pregnancies are picked up during your first ultrasound, where doctors can spot the two embryo sacs and eventually see each baby. From around 10–12 weeks, you might even hear two distinct heartbeats with a Doppler.
