Twins On The Increase

The number of twin births has doubled in the last four decades, a research has found.

21:06 10 February 2016

Twin births have almost doubled in developed countries within just four decades. In England and Wales, the rate increased from 9.9 twins per 1,000 deliveries in 1975 to 16.1 in 2011. Other countries such as the US, Germany, France and Denmark have almost the same figures.

 

Researchers, who have conducted the study, said that the sharp rise could be attributed to fertility treatments and older mothers.

 

A spokesman from France's Ined demographic research institute said: "Techniques like ovarian stimulation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are associated with a greatly increased risk of multiple births.

 

"However, in the same period, the mean age at childbearing has also increased considerably, and the incidence of multiple pregnancies is known to increase with the mother's age."

 

The researchers said that this is an "important public health issue because twin babies are more fragile than singleton ones.”

 

Their report said: "They have lower birth weight, more complications at birth, and are more often born premature-all of which are associated with many long-term health problems.

 

"Stillbirth and infant mortality rates are also much higher among twins than among singletons.

 

"Having twins can also have negative effects on parents. Twin pregnancies are associated with higher risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, postpartum depression, and increased divorce risk."