1 in every 30 babies born in US is a twin
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2012, Friday
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MORE US women are having twins these days. The reason? Older moms and fertility treatments.
One in every 30 babies born in the US is a twin - an astounding increase over the last three decades, according to a government report issued on Wednesday. In 1980, only 1 in every 53 babies was a twin.
"When people say it seems like you see more twins nowadays, they're right," said Joyce Martin, an epidemiologist who coauthored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Some increase was expected, as more women are waiting until they are over 30 to have babies. For some unknown reason, mothers in their 30s are more likely to have twins than younger or older women. As much as a third of the increase can be attributed to that, Martin said.
The rest of the rise is due to fertility drugs and treatments, experts said.
"There are more older moms and more widespread use of fertility-enhancing therapies," Martin said.
Starting in the early 1980s, couples who had trouble conceiving began to benefit from medical advances like fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization and other procedures. These treatments became fairly widespread in the 1990s but are expensive, and availability and insurance coverage varies.
The twin birth rate rose by more than 2 percent a year, on average, from 1980 through 2004. It leveled off to less than 1 percent annually, although the rise from 2008 to 2009 was nearly 2 percent.
In 2009, twin rates increased in all 50 states, though the jumps were highest in New England, New Jersey and Hawaii. In Connecticut, twins now account for nearly 5 percent of births.
Nationally, 3.3 percent of all births were twins in 2009, up from 2 percent in 1980.
The greatest increase in twin rates was for women 40 and older. They are more likely to use fertility treatments and to have two embryos implanted during in vitro fertilization, whereas younger women are more likely to get just one.
About 7 percent of all births for women 40 and older were twins, compared to 5 percent of women in their late 30s and 2 percent of women age 24 or younger.
Some experts say the trend is worrisome, noting that multiple births are more dangerous for the mother and their babies. The infants tend to be born earlier, smaller and weaker, and require much more care.
One in every 30 babies born in the US is a twin - an astounding increase over the last three decades, according to a government report issued on Wednesday. In 1980, only 1 in every 53 babies was a twin.
"When people say it seems like you see more twins nowadays, they're right," said Joyce Martin, an epidemiologist who coauthored the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Some increase was expected, as more women are waiting until they are over 30 to have babies. For some unknown reason, mothers in their 30s are more likely to have twins than younger or older women. As much as a third of the increase can be attributed to that, Martin said.
The rest of the rise is due to fertility drugs and treatments, experts said.
"There are more older moms and more widespread use of fertility-enhancing therapies," Martin said.
Starting in the early 1980s, couples who had trouble conceiving began to benefit from medical advances like fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization and other procedures. These treatments became fairly widespread in the 1990s but are expensive, and availability and insurance coverage varies.
The twin birth rate rose by more than 2 percent a year, on average, from 1980 through 2004. It leveled off to less than 1 percent annually, although the rise from 2008 to 2009 was nearly 2 percent.
In 2009, twin rates increased in all 50 states, though the jumps were highest in New England, New Jersey and Hawaii. In Connecticut, twins now account for nearly 5 percent of births.
Nationally, 3.3 percent of all births were twins in 2009, up from 2 percent in 1980.
The greatest increase in twin rates was for women 40 and older. They are more likely to use fertility treatments and to have two embryos implanted during in vitro fertilization, whereas younger women are more likely to get just one.
About 7 percent of all births for women 40 and older were twins, compared to 5 percent of women in their late 30s and 2 percent of women age 24 or younger.
Some experts say the trend is worrisome, noting that multiple births are more dangerous for the mother and their babies. The infants tend to be born earlier, smaller and weaker, and require much more care.
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