Mothers of twins are not more fertile, just lucky

Published on May 24, 2022

Imagine you walk into a bakery and find that, by some incredible stroke of luck, one of the bakers is handing out double the number of pastries for the same price. You might conclude that this particular baker must be extra skilled or using some secret technique. But a new study challenges that assumption when it comes to mothers of twins. Contrary to previous beliefs, a detailed analysis of more than 100,000 births from pre-industrial Europe shows that women who have twins are not more fertile than others.

It’s like finding out that the extra pastries aren’t because the baker is a master pastry chef, but simply because they happened to have twice as many baking trays. Likewise, the phenomenon of giving birth to twins is not necessarily due to an enhanced fertility trait possessed by these women; it’s more like winning the lottery in the genetic lottery pool.

This groundbreaking research challenges previous findings and highlights the complexity of reproductive biology. It’s a reminder that what may seem like a straightforward relationship between cause and effect can often reveal surprising nuances upon closer examination. To dive deeper into the fascinating world of twin pregnancies and unravel the numerous factors at play, be sure to explore the underlying research linked above!

Are women who have twins more fertile? While previous studies concluded they are, a detailed analysis of more than 100,000 births from pre-industrial Europe by an international team of scientists shows they are not.

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