Conceiving and giving birth to twins is nothing less than a miracle. It is one of the beautiful and rare gifts of God. Let us take a look at some facts about twins and if it is really possible to plan for twins. Being a parent is a great privilege bestowed by almighty and the joy is doubled when twins are conceived. It is possible to detect twin or multiple pregnancies through an ultrasound. Below mentioned are some
facts about twins.
What is the difference between fraternal twins and identical twins?
There are two types of twins: fraternal and identical. Fraternal twins are the result of two
eggs getting fertilized in the same
ovulation phase. Identical twins are the result of a fertilized egg dividing into two. In the case of fraternal twins, an ultrasound scan of the expectant mother will show two separate sacks; identical twins, on the other hand, share the same sack.
Can one plan for having twins?
Although, it is not possible to plan for twins, it has been observed that the use of fertility drugs does increase the chance of multiple births. This is because fertility drugs cause more than one egg to be released in a particular cycle. As women in developed societies delay childbearing, they seem to have trouble
getting pregnant. More and more women are asked to take fertility drugs, therefore the incidence of fraternal twins (or multiple babies) is on the rise.
Another factor that may contribute to the conception of twins is
planning babies at an older age. It is marked that before entering the peri-menopause phase, the ovaries of women start releasing more eggs thereby increasing the chances of conceiving twins. The fertility is boosted during this period as a result of the increased levels of estrogen.
It is also said that women who are on oral contraceptive pills have chances of conceiving twins. Women who conceive immediately after stopping pills have greater chance of conceiving twins. After stopping the pills the ability of ovaries to produce more than one egg is improved thereby increasing the chances of conceiving twins.
Conceiving twins not only depends on the number of eggs that are released but also on the ability of sperms to fertilize these eggs. Healthy and more mobile sperms improve the chances of conceiving twins when multiple eggs are released.
Is it possible to conceive twins through IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization)?
During the process of IVF the doctor transfers an embryo into to the uterus of the mother. In very rare cases this embryo may split into two and result in twins. In case of the single embryo transfer during IV the chances of conceiving twins are very low. But most of the patients who undergo IVF wish to have twins as they are concerned about the cost factor. By planning for twins it is possible to have two babies at a time and parents do not have to undergo more rounds of IVF for having a second baby.
When more than one embryo is transferred, the chances of conceiving twins or multiples increase. But the success of the IVF cycle completely depends on the viability of embryo, health and age of the couples. Also, it is important to note that planning for twins or multiplies come with its own set of risks. Therefore, doctors advise couples against planning for twins or multiples to avoid risks.
If you are planning for twins you must also take the risk factors into the consideration. The decision to give birth to twins will be yours but perhaps you will need a lot of courage to raise the twins. There needs to be proper support systems to take care of twins when they are born. Therefore, when twins are conceived you need to make sure that you make the right arrangement so that the inconvenience is prevented.