[Opinions] how twins happen (inheritance and older ovaries)
in reply to a message by caleigh
Twins happen in two ways:
1) two eggs released and fertilized=fraternal twins
2) one egg fertilized and splits=identical
Identical is pure chance and is not inheritable.
Fraternal depends on how likely you are to release more than one egg and IS inheritable, but obviously only shows in females!!! That's why people can have families where it's known to "skip" generations. If the twins are boys, they have to pass down the potential to their daughters. It's just a TENDANCY to throw out more eggs, so you can't count on it.
Also, there is a theory that as you get older, your body "forgets" if it released an egg or not and may throw out more than one or it might just not bother to release an egg. This is why your chances of getting multiples can increase as you get older. In recent times, this has increased as 35+yo women are turning to fertility treatments to get pregnant. This increases the statistical chance of twins (or more).
Hope that helps!
1) two eggs released and fertilized=fraternal twins
2) one egg fertilized and splits=identical
Identical is pure chance and is not inheritable.
Fraternal depends on how likely you are to release more than one egg and IS inheritable, but obviously only shows in females!!! That's why people can have families where it's known to "skip" generations. If the twins are boys, they have to pass down the potential to their daughters. It's just a TENDANCY to throw out more eggs, so you can't count on it.
Also, there is a theory that as you get older, your body "forgets" if it released an egg or not and may throw out more than one or it might just not bother to release an egg. This is why your chances of getting multiples can increase as you get older. In recent times, this has increased as 35+yo women are turning to fertility treatments to get pregnant. This increases the statistical chance of twins (or more).
Hope that helps!