Our siblings are a huge part of our lives. The family would not be the same without them! And so it is only right to celebrate them on National Siblings Day every April 10. Whether we have a brother or sister, younger or older, growing up with them made our lives so much more fun, and we created a special bond. This bond is particularly intense for the twin siblings!

Whether they are identical or nonidentical twins, their relationship is always special.

 

Have you ever wondered how twins are formed? And what is the difference between identical and nonidentical ones?

 

Monozygotic twins, also known as identical twins, are formed when the embryo splits after fertilization. Embryo might split at any time during the first two weeks after fertilization. Monozygotic twins share 100% of each other's genes, by which they look alike and are of the same sex. And until this day, the biological mechanisms that prompt the single fertilized egg to split in two remain a mystery!

 

Dizygotic twins, also known as fraternal twins, occur when two eggs are fertilized by two separate sperm. This may happen if two or more eggs are released in one cycle. If each is fertilized, the result can be dizygotic twins. Dizygotic twins only share 50 % of each other's genes. And that is the same genetic similarity as any other siblings conceived and born at entirely different times.

 

What is the chance that you might become a parent to twins? In the general population, identical twin pregnancies occur in 1 of 250 births. Most multiple pregnancies conceived with fertility treatments are fraternal twins. But your chances of having twins depend not just on whether you undergo fertility treatment to conceive but also on your family history, race, age, and many other factors.

 

At the beginning of assisted reproduction technology, it was common to transfer up to three embryos at a time to achieve a better chance of success. It resulted in multiple pregnancies and also increased perinatal mortality. However, in the last decade, we can see a huge improvement in the embryo culture system and IVF specialists focus on having the best pregnancy rates with less risk.

 

At Reproclinic, we perform embryo single transfer policy, which means we transfer one embryo at a blastocyst stage (when the embryo has 5 or 6 days of life). This way, we minimize the risk for the mother and the future baby. And that is what we all strive for, healthy mum and baby at home.

 

Meet the top experts on assisted reproduction in Reproclinic. Book your initial appointment now and get your promotion code.