Changing trends in twinning

Abstract

Birth statistics (on 13,887.943 births) from 11 Indian States indicate a fall in the dizygotic twinning rate and a rise in the monozygotic twinning rate over the decade between 1982 and 1991. These figures seem to reverse the trend of the period 1960-1982. One plausible explanation is offered by the age-data on mothers, which indicate that twins of different sex are more frequently born to mothers above the age of 35. Since extensive family planning measures have reduced the upper age-limit of mothers, the birth-rate of twins of different sex has also fallen. Due to the increased proportion of twins of the same sex, Weinberg's differential method will therefore report a decline in the dizygotic twinning rate, wherever the mean age of mothers has fallen (i.e. most mothers do not reproduce after the age of 35).