by Chukwumah Ezeobika

Created on: November 06, 2010   Last Updated: November 16, 2010

The news of a twin pregnancy produces various reactions in different parents. It can be viewed from at least two perspectives. A twin pregnancy could be a source of joy or anxiety. For the couple that has been trying to have a child for a long time without success, a twin pregnancy is certainly joyful news. Parents who want to have big families are usually ecstatic at the idea of twin pregnancies.

On the flip side, a twin pregnancy multiplies the effects of pregnancy such as morning sickness and weight gain. Twin pregnancies also increase the risk of preterm labor, high blood pressure and diabetes amongst others. (1) Parents who are experiencing financial difficulties or who want small families may not welcome the fact that they are having two babies at once.

The above are some of the positive and negative issues that lead many parents to look for information regarding twin pregnancies. This article will explain some of the factors that contribute to twin pregnancies. Hopefully, it will help parents understand how to employ them.

Twin pregnancies occur naturally but there are factors which make a woman more likely to have twins. These include Age, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Genetics. These are discussed below but firstly, let us look at the development of identical twins and fraternal (non-identical) twins. This is important because the above factors affect the occurrence of identical or fraternal twins differently. Nevertheless, on the whole fraternal twins are a lot more common than identical twins.

How Twin Pregnancies Occur

Usually, only one egg is released when a woman ovulates. This egg is fertilized by sperm and results in the formation of a cell called the Zygote. The zygote then begins to divide and forms the embryo which eventually becomes the baby.

Identical twins result when only a single egg is released during ovulation as usual. After the egg is fertilized by the sperm, it divides into two separate zygotes. Twins formed in this way are always of the same sex.

Fraternal (non-identical) twins occur when two eggs are released during ovulation and are fertilized by two different sperm cells. This results in the formation of two zygotes. Fraternal twins may be of the same sex or of different sexes.

Having seen how either identical or fraternal twins occur, let us now look at the factors which influence twin pregnancies.

Factors That Affect the Occurrence of a Twin Pregnancy

Age at Pregnancy

The age of a woman is a big factor in the occurrence

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>