Who is most likely to have a multiple pregnancy?
We tell you the factors under which it is more likely to have a multiple pregnancy, will it touch you?
Before delving into the possibilities of a woman having a multiple pregnancy, we are going to differentiate between dizygotic and monozygotic twins.
– Dizygotic twins occur when two different sperm fertilize two different eggs. Therefore, two zygotes are formed at the same time, each with its own placenta. They are three-quarters of multiple pregnancies. As there are two different spermatozoids and two different eggs, the genes will be different and the resemblance between them will be like the resemblance between siblings. The only thing they share would be the delivery, which happens at the same time. Half of the twins are of the opposite sex.
– Monogothic twins are those in which a single egg and sperm are involved at the time of fertilization. However, after fertilization, the zygote divides by accident and two embryos appear. Here the genetic load is the same, which is why monozygotic twins are of the same sex, that is, they are not always identical, although their resemblance is amazing.
In addition to these two classes, there are also triple and quadruple pregnancies, etc. but their chances diminish as the number grows. So here we are going to focus on monozygotic and dizygotic twins.
Index
FACTORS INVOLVED IN A MONOZYGOTIC MULTIPLE PREGNANCY
The chances of it happening are lower than in dizygotic ones, so the factors involved are more mysterious. However, a higher proportion has been seen in those cases in which:
1- In vitro fertilization. It is not well known what this is due to, but people who undergo IVF have a slightly higher percentage of the zygote dividing once it has been fertilized.
2- Can it be hereditary? In the case of monozygotic twins, no. It is totally random, it is estimated that 1/250 births end up being twins.
FACTORS INVOLVED IN A DIZYGOTIC MULTIPLE PREGNANCY
When we talk about dizygotic twins, we can say with greater confidence that there are factors that increase the probabilities , we are no longer talking about a zygote that is split, but about the possibilities that two or more eggs are fertilized at the same time. Anyway we are talking about factors and probabilities, it means that a woman can have all the factors mentioned and not necessarily have a multiple pregnancy, she has more chances of it happening but it is not a rule of three, it does not necessarily have to happen that way. . And vice versa, a woman may not have any of the above factors and still have a multiple pregnancy.
1- Age of the mother. It has been proven that women over 30 have a higher ovarian follicular concentration, that is, their ovaries produce a greater number of eggs than when they are younger. By producing more eggs per cycle the chances are increased. There are even studies that show that 70% of women who are over 45 years old and manage to get pregnant have twins.
2- Weight of the mother. It has been proven that women who have a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 30 are more likely to conceive twins. It is because from that weight the ovaries tend to generate more than one egg per cycle.
3- The race. The reason is not very well known, but there has been a relationship of the race with the increase of the possibilities. Twins are more common in black mothers, followed by Caucasian, Hispanic and, lastly, Oriental races.
4- Inheritance. It is known that 17% of twins will also have twins. Here the inheritance is transmitted through both the father and the mother, it occurs regardless of whether it is your mother or your father who has a twin brother, although that is, only expressed by women. In the event that it is the husband who has a family history, this increased chance will be transmitted to his daughter, obviously men are not the ones who ovulate.
5- Having previously had twins. The explanation is simple. If a woman has already had twins before, it could be because she has a predisposition to multiple ovulation and that would explain why the event is repeated.
6- Use of oral contraceptives. The pill is anovulatory, that is, it prevents ovulation, it inhibits it. Like other contraceptives, the pill has a small error rate of 1%. If it fails, one or more eggs may be reached by the sperm. Also, if the woman has recently stopped the pill, a rebound effect may appear, in which the ovaries, when they are no longer inhibited, increase their function for a time and secrete more eggs in the same cycle.
7- Use of in vitro assisted reproduction techniques . Nowadays, more and more women use this method to get pregnant. The explanation is simple, motherhood is delayed due to culture, the incorporation of women into work, the crisis that prevents economic stability … Many women who are over 40 (or simply with fertility problems) use this technique . In it, the ovaries are stimulated to produce a greater number of eggs, so the possibilities increase. When embryos are implanted in the mother’s uterus, not just one is implanted, but at least 2 or 3. In the event that the two or three embryos are implanted correctly, the mother will have a multiple pregnancy.
8- Good nutrition. Women who are well nourished and do not lack any type of vitamin or essential component have a better chance. What’s more, it is difficult for underweight women to have twins. Therefore, if you are interested in having them and want to gain weight, it is good that you go to a doctor to achieve it in a healthy way.
Likewise, taking vitamins will help you achieve your goal, but although they all come in handy, the most relevant are folic acid supplements .
Other studies indicate that eating certain foods increases your chances of conceiving twins. For example, milk. The explanation is that cows that are treated with rBGH hormones can transmit them through milk to women who drink it frequently.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.