Will Clomid Get You Pregnant With Twins?
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated December 10, 2014.
Wondering if you'll conceive twins when taking clomid? From the way the media paints fertility drugs and multiples, it may seem that everyone taking clomid is bound to have twins.
But that's not really true. What are the odds of getting pregnant with twins when taking this popular fertility drug?
Generally speaking, clomid causes twin pregnancies about 10% of the time, with less than 1% of clomid pregnancies leading to triplets or higher order pregnancies.
During clinical trials for clomid, about 7% of pregnancies led to twins, about 0.5% of pregnancies led to triplets and 0.3% to quadruplets.
Will They Be Identical Twins?
Most twins conceived with clomid will not be identical. During the clinical trials of the twin pregnancies, 1 in 5 were identical twins, while 80% of the twin pregnancies were fraternal twins (not identical).
Why aren't they identical? Clomid increases your odds of conceiving twins because your ovaries may ovulate more than one egg. Identical twins come from one egg, not two.
Some women ask their doctors to give them clomid, not because they are having trouble getting pregnant, but just because they want to get pregnant with twins.
There are risks that come with multiple pregnancies, though. You should think twice before purposely trying to get pregnant with twins.
What Other Factors May Increase My Odds for Twins?
While it's impossible to know who will get pregnant with twins while taking clomid, and who won't, there are some factors that may hint to an increased chance of getting pregnant with twins.
Using a higher dosage than necessary may increase the risk of having twins. (Ironically, though, using a higher dosage of clomid than necessary may also decrease the chances of pregnancy occurring at all, because higher doses of clomid can create thick cervical mucus.)
Also, women taking clomid who do not have trouble ovulating or getting pregnant, as well as women younger than 25, may have an increased risk of getting pregnant with twins while taking clomid.
Of course, fertility drugs aren't the only cause for multiple pregnancies. Even without Clomid's help. factors that may increase your odds for twins include your age, height, weight, and family history.
More on twins:
- What Increases My Chances of Having Twins
- Quiz: Are My Odds for Twins Higher Than Most?
- Quiz: Could I Be Pregnant With Twins?
- Twin Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
More about clomid:
- Clomid Day by Day: What to Expect, What's Happening in Your Body
- Clomid Treatment Basics
- Clomid Side Effects
- When Should You Have Sex When Taking Clomid?
- Where to Buy Clomid for the Best Price
- What Is the Clomid Success Rate?
- What If Clomid Doesn't Work?
- Understanding Treatment of Infertility
- Fertility Treatment Stress: How to Cope
- Take a Fertility Quiz
Would you like to receive trying to conceive tips and fertility information every week? Sign up for a free fertility newsletter here.
Sources:
Clomid Drug Information Sheet. Sanofi-Aventis. Accessed October 6, 2008. http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/clomid/clomid.pdf
Complications and Problems Associated With Multiple Births: Fact Sheet. American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Accessed October 6, 2008. http://asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/complications_multiplebirths.pdf
Medications for Inducing Ovulation: A Guide for Patients. American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Accessed October 6, 2008. http://asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/ovulation_drugs.pdf
