There has been an increase in the rate of twin births since the 1980s. More twins are being born now than ever before. If you are dreaming of having twins, you might want to check out this article on how to have twins naturally. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that you will end up being pregnant with twins. However, these tips have the potential to increase the odds of having twins.
How Are Twins Conceived?
Now, before we start talking about the tips, let us first understand how a twin pregnancy takes place. There are two types of twins – identical twins and fraternal twins.
You will have identical twins when one single fertilized egg splits and forms two separate embryos. When you have identical twins, there is a 99.9% chance that the pair of babies will be of the same gender. This means that it is extremely rare to have identical twin boys and girls. However, it is not completely impossible.
On the other hand, you will have fraternal twins when two separate fertilized eggs enter the womb at the same time and hence, create two separate embryos. The chances of having fraternal twins are much higher than having identical twins. In cases of fraternal twins, you may have a set of twin girls, twin boys, or even a twin boy and girl. Unlike identical twins, fraternal twins do not look exactly alike.
What Are The Chances Of Having Twins?
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the outcome of twin pregnancies is around 1 out of 250 pregnancies. If you do end up with a twin pregnancy, you are more likely to have fraternal twins than identical twins. Another interesting finding is that you are more likely to have female twins than male twins.
While it might seem like the chances of having a twin pregnancy are quite slim, here are some tips you can try out to raise the chances of ovulating two eggs naturally.
Factors That Increase Your Chances Of Having Twins Naturally
There are multiple factors that increase the chances of a twin pregnancy. These include:
Age
Research shows that women over the age of 30 are more likely to conceive twins. This is because as women grow older, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in their bodies tends to increase. Since this hormone plays an important role in stimulating the growth of eggs in the ovaries, an increase in FSH may increase the chances of ovulating two eggs in the embryo naturally. So, if you wish to conceive twins, you might want to start at the age of 30 or above.
Height and Weight
Twin pregnancies may be common among women who are taller and heavier than women who are short and skinny. However, the reason for this is not yet established.
Diet
Research suggests that women who consume high amounts of yams or dairy products tend to have a higher chance of a twin pregnancy. Foods that usually cause twins (stimulate hyperovulation) include cassava, sweet potatoes, soy isoflavones, whole grains, as well as whole wheat.
Foods rich in zinc may also help to stimulate hyperovulation. You may want to include more oysters, crab, beef, and green leafy vegetables in your diet. Moreover, women who consume more calorie-rich foods may be more likely to have twins than women who are vegan or consume low calories.
Family History
If you have identical twins in your family, it may not do anything to raise your chances of having twins. This is because identical twins do not run in the family – it occurs randomly.
However, the case is different for fraternal twins. If you have fraternal twins in your family, the “twin genes” may be passed on to you. The “twin genes” are genes that promote hyperovulation, which means that the ovaries produce more than one egg during the fertilization process. Your chances of having twins may be raised if you are the daughter of a fraternal twin. Moreover, if you are the sibling of a fraternal twin, you are twice as likely to have a twin pregnancy than on average.
Since only women ovulate, the “twin genes” won’t work if passed onto a male. However, if the “twin genes” of the father, who is a fraternal twin or the sibling of a fraternal twin, are passed onto his daughter, she may have a higher chance of a twin pregnancy. It is more common for the mother’s side of the family to pass on the twin genes to future generations. If you do not have any family history, do not worry as there is a 1 in 250 chance of a twin pregnancy for every woman.
Folic Acid And Twin Conception
Folic acid is a form of vitamin B9 that is said to increase the chances of a twin conception. You may want to start taking regular doses of folic acid if you want to conceive twins.
You can take folic acid before or during your pregnancy. Most doctors will tell you to take around 0.4mg of folic acid per day before pregnancy and then increase the dosage to 0.6mg per day during your pregnancy. Folic acid not only increases the likelihood of a twin pregnancy but also helps to protect and develop your baby’s brain.
Fertility Herbs For Twins
Another thing you can try is fertility herbs that help to accelerate fertility and thus promote hyperovulation. These include licorice roots, maca roots, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, sweet cassava, chaste tree berry, and black cohosh.
How To Have Twins Naturally Using Fertility Drugs
Certain fertility drugs may allow you to fertilize two separate eggs in your embryo. These include:
Clomid/Clomifene
Clomid has the ability to increase your chances of twin pregnancy by 5-12% for women who are at least 35 years old. Clomid is an oral medication that reduces estrogen levels in your body. A lower level of estrogen helps to increase the production of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your body and thus, raises the chances of ovulating two eggs in your embryo.
What is great about this fertility drug is that it poses no risk to the baby. Although this medication does not have major side effects, there is a slight chance that you might feel dizzy or notice a change in your vision when you start taking the drug. It is important to note that this medication should not be used for long periods of time, that is, it should not be used for more than six cycles.
Femara
Femara is another fertility drug that increases your chances of twin pregnancy by 3.4% in most cases. It is also an oral medication that needs to be taken once a day for a continuous period of five days. Although its main function is to treat breast cancer, it can also be used to stimulate ovulation in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
It can also be used to stimulate ovulation in women who are dealing with unexplained infertility. Femara is specifically designed to block aromatase, which is an enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen. So, if aromatase is blocked, your estrogen levels will automatically decrease and hence, you might have a better chance of ovulating.
Gonadotropins
If you get pregnant by consuming gonadotropins, you have a 30% of a twin pregnancy. You may also end up with triplets but this case is less common. Gonadotropins are not an oral medication, unlike the fertility drugs mentioned above. It is injected into the muscle or skin of your body. Most doctors require the women to take the injection for a period of one or two weeks.
However, this depends entirely on how your ovaries respond to the medication. If you have a slow response, your doctor may increase the number of doses per week. While this fertility drug has a higher chance of inducing a twin pregnancy compared to the other two drugs mentioned above, it may cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women.
OHSS is mostly likely to cause swelling in the abdomen. It may also cause swelling around your heart or lungs, which puts you at serious risk. So, before starting your treatment, it is best to consult with your doctor to avoid any health hazards. Another thing to note is that the treatment of gonadotropins is very costly. The cost of one treatment cycle can be as high as $1000 or even $5000.
How To Have Twins Naturally Using Fertility Treatment
IUI
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment that brings sperm cells close to the woman’s egg during ovulation so that fertilization is made easier. This treatment might be able to cause a twin pregnancy if the woman is able to produce more than one egg during ovulation.
It usually takes about two weeks to view the results. It is important to note that IUI, alone, will not cause a twin pregnancy. In most cases, the IUI treatment requires you to use fertility drugs before going forth.
IVF
IVF is quite a popular fertility treatment that has a success rate ranging from 19-35%, depending on the age of the woman. If you are under the age of 35, you will have a 32% chance of pregnancy. If you fall under the age group between 35 and 37, you will have a 25% chance of pregnancy.
On the other hand, if you are 38 or 39 years old, you will have a 19% chance of pregnancy. In this fertility treatment, the mature eggs are collected from the ovaries and placed in a test tube, along with the sperm cells of your partner or a donor.
Once the eggs are fertilized, they are transferred to the uterus. A complete cycle of IVF will take around three weeks to complete. You will be able to give birth to twins if you are able to fertilize two eggs successfully.
Different Sex Positions To To Conceive Twins
reference link: https://thequeenmomma.com/sex-positions-to-conceive-twins/
Although there is no proper scientific research that would support this claim, some people believe that certain sex positions may help to increase the likelihood of conceiving twins naturally.
The only legitimate explanation is that these positions allow for deep penetration and since the cervix is positioned more closely to the sperm cells, there is a higher chance of hyperovulation. These sex positions include:
Side-By-Side
This is a position where the man and the woman are both lying down sideways and are spooning. This position is said to increase the likelihood of twins as the cervix is in direct contact with the sperm.
Missionary
Missionary is another sex position that allows for deep penetration. You can try putting your legs on your partner’s shoulders for deeper penetration. This is said to increase your chances of a twin pregnancy as well.
Standing-Up
The standing-up position also allows for deep penetration, which raises your chances of a twin pregnancy.
Conclusion
Twins may be a handful but they can also be a double bundle of joy. While it may seem almost impossible to conceive twins naturally, there are some techniques you can follow to increase your chances of a twin conception. You can change your diet, take supplements and fertility drugs, or undergo fertility treatments if you really wish to have twins.
