How to Get Pregnant With Twins?
Twins
Dr. Smriti
Jul 23, 2021
Many couples who would love to raise twins on the other hand, many couples have different views on this. Couples who are willing to have twins usually question their doctors on how to get pregnant with twins?
There are several myths going around about enhancing the odds of having twins. Well, there are no proven ways to increase the likelihood of conceiving twins. Yet, there are certain factors making twin pregnancy more likely.
Twins happen either when two eggs are fertilized in the womb or when a single egg is fertilized and splits into two embryos. These days having twins are more common than in the past.
Why do twin pregnancies happen?
Doctors yet are not fully confirmed why twin pregnancy happens sometimes. However, some factors that enhance the likelihood of giving birth to twins include:
- Having a family history of twins
- The woman’s age
- Having fertility treatments
A woman conceives when a sperm fertilizes an egg to form an embryo. Well, if at the time of fertilization two eggs are present or the fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos, then a woman becomes pregnant with twins.
What are the types of twins?
- Identical Twins: This type of pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg splits into two separate embryos. The embryos are known as monozygotic, this means they have identical genes. Identical twins have the same gender and they look very alike.
- Non-Identical or Fraternal Twins: This type of pregnancy happens when there are two eggs present in the womb at the time of fertilization, and both are fertilized with the sperm. These embryos are known as dizygotic, meaning they do not have identical genes and may not have the same gender.
After fertility treatment chances of fraternal twins are common because healthcare professionals often place two fertilized embryos into a woman’s womb to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
How common are twins?
Twins are relatively uncommon. It is said that approximately 1 in 250 pregnancies results in twins. Well, with the rise in fertility treatment and most of the women choosing to have children at a later age the birth of twins has increased significantly.
How to know if you will have twins in the future?
Fertility treatments are not only the cause of twin pregnancy. Here are few more factors which increase your chances of getting pregnant with multiples.
Genetics
You must have heard that “Twins run in the families”. Well, this is partially true. Your chances of conceiving fraternal twins increase, if you are a fraternal twin or if fraternal twins run in your family.
Hyperovulation can be one of the reasons, this is a situation where two or more eggs are released during ovulation. It is basically a requirement for having fraternal twins. This condition of hyperovulation can be passed down in your DNA through your mom’s genes or dad’s genes.
Age
If you are above 35 and willing to have twins, you may hit the jackpot. Even if you are above 30s or 40’s your chances of having twins rises. This is because after 35 years of age the ovaries release more than one egg per month. So if sperm fertilizes two separate eggs, you can conceive twins.
Height
It is said that taller women seem to have a higher rate of conceiving twins. It may sound a bit strange but why it happens is not clear. But one theory says it is because better nutrition is partially behind the enhanced rate of twins.
Weight
People who are overweight or obese and with a BMI over 30 have higher chances to conceive twins than people with a healthier BMI. This is because extra body fats increase estrogen level, and a higher level of estrogen leads to overstimulation of the ovaries. So during ovulation instead of releasing one egg, the ovaries may release two or more leading to getting pregnant with twins.
Previous pregnancies
If you already have a child who is looking to be a big brother or sister then he or she may be the reason you end up having twins. Previous pregnancy or better if previous multiple pregnancies may increase your chances of hiving twins.
In fact women above 35 to 40 having four or more children are three time more likely to have twins compared to a woman under 20 with no children.
These are some of the ways to know if you will have twins in the future.
Fertility treatments enhancing chances of having twins
If you are well versed with artificial reproductive technology (ART), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and other fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) then you may be already aware that twins are highly possible in this.
IUI
The procedure of IUI doesn’t enhance your chances of getting pregnant with twins, but certain drugs associated with it might. Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) and letrozole (Femara) are drugs for stimulating ovulation.
Both these drugs are given during IUI cycles and it might help the body to release multiple eggs at the same time. If two or more eggs are fertilized and implanted, then the chances of conceiving twins increase.
IVF
During IVF procedures drugs are also used. But one of the main reasons that enhances your chances of conceiving twins with this reproductive procedure is that the number of embryos transferred is decided by you.
Many couples decide to just transfer one embryo thinking that it might split and turn into identical twins, the chances are not much.
On the other hand, more likely scenario is with fraternal twins. So if you transfer two or more embryos and they both are successfully implanted and develop, then twins are possible.
With age, the chances go down, as women who are 38 to 40 have only 5.3 percent rate of twins. And women who are 43 and older the rate is just 0.5 percent
So considering this most couples chooses to transfer two embryos during IVF.
Thus, the answer to the question of how to get pregnant fast with twins is through fertility treatment.
What are the chances of having identical twins?
In most cases, identical twin pregnancies occur 0.45% of the time or 1 in 250 births. Whereas most of the multiple pregnancies conceived with fertility treatment are fraternal twins. The fertility treatment enhances your risk of having identical twins.
As per a study, the risk of identical twins is 0.95% when pregnancy is conceived with fertility treatment. This is double the chances of a normal population. It is still unclear why fertility treatment leads to more identical twins.
As per one theory, the fertilized embryos that are placed in IVF enhance the chances of identical twins. Another theory says treatment using gonadotrophins leads to the increased chances of identical twins.
How to conceive twins with fertility pills?
Medications are used to enhance fertility that usually works by boosting the production of eggs in a woman’s ovaries. So, if more eggs are produced then it is more likely that more than one egg would be released and fertilized. These cause fraternal twins. Now the question arises that what are the chances of having twins?
Clomiphene and gonadotrophins are commonly used fertility drugs that may enhance your chances of having twins. Clomiphene is only available only through prescription. It is an oral drug and its dose will depend on a person’s individual needs. It helps in stimulating the body’s hormones to cause ovulation.
As per studies, it is said that woman who uses this drug during fertility treatment is more likely to have twins than those who don’t.
Gonadotropin is a fertility medication that is given by injection. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is given by itself or combined with luteinizing hormone (LH).
As the body makes more eggs due to these fertility medications so there are higher chances that more than one egg will be fertilized. So, intake of fertility pills for twins can be helpful if you are willing to have twins.
What to eat to get pregnant with twins
Well, there is no manual on how to get pregnant with twins, there are numerous things that enhance your chances like age, family history, and fertility treatment. Life also plays a vital role, particularly in your diet. Here are some of the following foods that enhance your chances of conceiving twins:
Dairy products
It is found that consumption of animal products, particularly dairy, are five times more likely to have twins. So if you want to have twins increase your intake of dairy products like milk and cheese.
Yams
Yams are known to stimulate your ovaries thus enhances your chances of having multiple pregnancies.
Fruits and vegetables
Women who consume lots of fruits and vegetables are more likely to have twins as their vitamin intake is more. If you cannot eat yam then having kiwi, sweet potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, and sprouts can help you a lot to enhance your chances of having twins.
Folic acid supplements
As per an Australian study, it is said that women who take folic acid supplements before trying for a baby are more likely to get pregnant with twins. Well, in pregnancy folic acid is taken to avoid certain birth defects. So you can take folic acid to get pregnant with twins.
So these are some of the diets which are beneficial when trying to conceive twins.
How do you know if you are having twins?
There is no way to know whether you are having twins or not until you have your ultrasound around nine weeks. Although, two heart beats or chorion sacs can be detected as early as six weeks. If you are monitoring your pregnancy closely then a blood test which reveals a higher amount of hCG sometimes may indicates having twins.
Conclusion
There are numerous myths doing around regarding enhancing the odds to get pregnant with twins. Getting pregnant with twins depends on several factors like family history, age of women, and fertility treatments. Fertility treatments enhance your chances of conceiving twins due to the medications that increase stimulation of ovaries. This increases the release of the eggs from one to two during ovulation. If two eggs are fertilized and implanted in the uterus, then the chances of getting pregnant increase. Even if one egg is fertilized and it splits into two embryos then also your chances of conceiving twins increases.
FAQs
What causes twin pregnancy?
Usually multiple pregnancy happens when one or more eggs are fertilized by a man’s sperm. Well, it can also happen if one egg is fertilized and then splits into two or more embryos.
How to use clomid to get pregnant with twins?
Clomid, also known as Clomiphene Citrate is considered as one of the most widely trusted fertility medications. It results in the release of multiple eggs, thus your chances of getting pregnant with twins increases.
How can I get pregnant with non–identical twins?
When two eggs are fertilized separately and implanted in the womb then non-identical twins happens. Non-identical twins are more common and in this case babies may be of same gender or different.
How soon can twins be detected?
Usually, within six to seven weeks of pregnancy twins can be diagnosed.
What fertility pills help to conceive twins?
Clomiphene and Gonadotropins are the commonly used fertility drugs that enhance your chances of conceiving twins.
References
https://flo.health/getting-pregnant
https://www.huggies.com.sg/en-sg/parenting-center
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy
https://www.healthline.com/health
https://www.verywellfamily.com
