Can You Increase Your Chances of Conceiving Twins?

For some women, the thought of having twins is terrifying - double the work, double the cost and double the trouble. However, for many, a multiple birth is a long-held dream. So is there a way of increasing your chances of conceiving twins? Whether it is information gathered from studies or just old wives’ tales, here are some handy hints to try... How it works: There are two types of twins: fraternal, when two eggs are fertilised at the same time, and identical, when one egg splits in two. Naturally conceived twins occur in about 1 out of every 89 births. There has been an increase in the conception of twins in the last few years, probably due to a growing birth rate, more women having children later in life as multiple births increase with age and more couples opting for fertility treatment which often results in twins or triplets. Family history: If fraternal twins run in your family then the odds are stacked much better as the gene for hyperovulation may be passed down from generation to generation. A man who carries the gene doesn't have a greater chance of having twins himself because his genes don't affect his partner's ovulation. Identical twins are not thought to be hereditary as the splitting of an egg appears to happen at random. Ethnicity: Studies have shown that women of African origin are more likely to have twins than Caucasian women, whereas Asian women have a lower chance of conception leading to multiple births. IVF and fertility drugs: Women undergoing fertility treatment are more likely to have twins as the drugs used stimulate the ovaries, increasing the odds that several eggs are released at the same time. Age: Waiting until you are older can be the answer to how to conceive twins as mature mothers are far more likely to have a multiple birth than their younger counterparts. This is because as you get older, hormonal changes make it increasingly likely that your body will release more than one egg at a time. Diet and your body: There are many myths on how to conceive twins that some women swear have worked for them. Yams are said to cause hyper-stimulation of the ovaries while mothers who consumed dairy foods were shown to be five times more likely to have twins. A link has also been argued between taking folic acid while trying for a baby and the conception of twins. There have been studies suggesting women who are overweight, and who are tall, have a higher chance of having twins. Another claimed women who were breastfeeding when they conceived were nine times more likely to conceive twins than those who weren’t. Family size: Increase your odds by simply having more children. The greater number of times you are pregnant>, the more likely it is that one of them could result in twins.