A guide for anyone TTC and wondering how to increase the chances of having twins.
By OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Kenosha Gleaton
Dreaming about “Twin 1” and “Twin 2” onesies, a split nursery, or a double stroller? Twin births have nearly doubled over the last 40 years, which coincides with an increase in fertility treatments. Let’s break down why twins exist, what role genetics play, and why carrying multiples can be risky.
How twins occur
There are two types of twins, identical and fraternal. Identical twins occur when a single embryo divides into two embryos. Each embryo is genetically identical and will be the same sex.
Fraternal (non-identical) twins occur when two separate eggs are each fertilized by two separate sperm. The two embryos that result are not genetically identical and can therefore be either the same or different sex. Fraternal twins are far more common than identical twins, especially when a twin pregnancy results from assisted reproduction.
