TWINS

TYPES OF TWINS

• Fraternal
• Identical
• Conjoined

HOW?

With fraternal twins (also known as 'non-identical twins'), the most common type, the mother contributes two eggs that each are fertilized in the womb by two different sperm cells from the father. The two eggs form two zygotes, and these twins are therefore also known as 'dizygotic' as well as 'biovular' twins

Fraternal twins, like any other siblings, may look very similar, particularly given that they are the same age. However, fraternal twins may also look very different from each other. They may be a different sex or the same sex. The same holds true for brothers and sisters from the same parents, meaning that fraternal twins are simply brothers and/or sisters who happen to have the same age. They are genetically as similar as any ordinary siblings.

"This type of twin is more common if there is a family history of twins, also more common for older mothers, with twinning rates doubling in mothers over the age of 35.
They are also more likely to occur if fertility drugs are used to help you become pregnant."