Did you know that if you have had twins once, you are much more likely to have them again?
If you have already had a set of natural fraternal twins or multiples, then your chances of having another set of fraternal twins or multiples has greatly increased!
Lets take a quick look at the numbers:
- Chance of having fraternal natural twins is about 1 in 90.
- Chance of having fraternal twins with fertility drugs is about 1 in 35.
- Chance of having identical twins is about 1 in 250.
- Chance of having triplets is about 1 in 8,100.
- Chance of having triplets with fertility drugs is about 1 in 700
Using fertility treatment boosts your odds to a staggering 1 in 3!
Second time around
Ok so you have already won the “Twin Parent lottery” once. What are the odds of you having a second set of twins?
- If your first set of twins were fraternal, then your chances of having another set of fraternal twins is multiplied by four! That’s 1 in 12!
- If your first set of twins were identical, then your chances of having another set of identical twins drops way down to 1 in 70,000 or so.
- If you are using fertility treatment, then the chances are the same as with your first set of twins.
Other factors that can increase the odds of multiples
There are many other factors that can increase your odds of having twins or multiples. Some of them are:
- Your age. If you are over 50, then your chances of having twins increases to 1 in 9.
- Your mother or grandmother is a fraternal twin. Studies have shown that if your mother is a fraternal twin, your chances of having fraternal twins might be has high as 1 in 17.
- Your weight. Studies have shown that women with a body mass index of 30 or more have a significantly increased chance of having fraternal twins.
Statistics gathered from multiple sources including; 2005 study published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Disease Control
