Chances of having twins

[Sally]

Do the chances of having twins increase from the male/female side of the family or both? I was told that it is only the male side of the family that increases the chances of having twins- is this true?

[Dr Helen Webberley]

Hello, twins can happen in one of two ways.

Firstly, the woman can release more than one egg at a time and if both eggs are fertilised that month then those fertilised eggs can go on to become babies (non-identical) at the same time.

The other way is that a single fertilised egg splits in half and each half goes on to divide and make a baby (these babies will be identical twins).

There is no evidence that identical twins are more likely to happen if they have happened before in your family. There is some evidence that if the mother has non identical twins running down her side of the family, then the chances are increased.

So, it's nothing to do with the sperm, it's all about the eggs!!