The Myths and Facts About Twins

In a world full of fertility treatments and multiple births, twins can still seem like an anomaly. But the truth is that approximately one out of every eighty-five births will be a set of twins. There are two types of twins: identical (monozygotic) or fraternal (dizygotic), and the difference between the two lies in conception. Identical twins occur when one egg is fertilized by one sperm and then the fertilized egg later splits in two. Because they were originally the same fertilized egg, these identical twins share 100 percent of their genetic makeup. Fraternal twins occur when the ovaries have released two separate eggs that are then fertilized by two separate sperm. Because they originate from separate eggs and sperm, fraternal twins really only share about the same genetic makeup as regular siblings do. Fraternal twins can also be mixed sex, whereas identical twins will always be the same sex.

Having twins or multiple births can also raise the risk of developing pregnancy complications such as premature birth, low birth weight, Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, Preeclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, and stretch marks among other things. Studies show that twins are more likely in African Americans, in mothers who are between 30-40, in mothers who have had several other pregnancies, and in mothers who are undergoing fertility treatments.

There are many myths and wives tales associated with twins: the notion that twins skip a generation, that twins must always be born by cesarean, that there is one good twin and one bad twin, that twins will be opposites of each other, that twins have ESP, that twins are always best friends, the list goes on and on. And practically every myth you will find regarding twins has been disproved.

The resources below can provide you with more information about every aspect of twins and multiple births.

The Center for the Study of Multiple Births - Articles and statistics about multiple births.

International Society for Twin Studies - non profit organization whose goal is to fund the study and education of all fields related to twins.

Parenting Corner Q & A: Twins - American Academy of Pediatrics tips for how to parent twins

Twin Days - The official site of the twin festival that takes place in Twinsburg, OH every year.

Twins, Triplets, and Beyond - A fact sheet on multiple births made by The March of Dimes.

Conjoined Twins - Facts about conjoined twins.

Identical Twins - A study about the environmental impact on twins

Twins Facts and Figures - A fun collection of twin facts, and famous twins

When You Are A Twin Or Triplet - A great article about being a twin or triplet, written for children.

Twins Magazine - A magazine for parents of multiples

Twin Pregnancy: What Multiples Mean for Mom - Article by the Mayo Clinic

Twin Pregnancy Facts - Parenting magazine present important facts about twin pregnancy.

Twins Health - A collection of articles on twins by the New York Times

Types of Twins - The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs clears up the differences between the types of twins.

Twin, Triplets, and Multiple Births - A wealth of information compiled by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is not meant to be a substitute for a medical doctor's opinion. This site is for informational purposes ONLY. Please check with your medical practitioner before any type of treatment or prevention method is started.