Ellen Bruder – Curtis Strite

1. Genetics

If you have a history of fraternal twins on your mother’s side of the family, then the odds of having twins are in your favor. The difference between fraternal and identical twins is identical twins develop from the same fertilized egg, whereas fraternal twins develop from two different eggs released at the same time.

The splitting of a single fertilized egg, leading to identical twins, seems to happen at random and can’t be predicted. The process of releasing two eggs at the same time, on the other hand, is referred to as hyperovulation. This is a genetic trait that can be passed from mother to daughter and not only can it increase your chances of having twins, but it could also lead to triplets or even more.

Something to remember is that like all other genes, just because a woman has this particular gene, it does not mean that she will necessarily pass it on to her children.

While men can carry specific “twin gene” and pass it on to their daughters, a family history of twins on the father’s side of the family does not make their children more susceptible to having twins themselves since his genes don’t affect his partner’s ovulation. So to all the men hoping to have twins since you have a history on your family, sorry to say but you have nothing to do with it.

HealthyWay — Getty Images News / Mario Tama

2. Being a Twin

If you are a fraternal twin, triplet, or other multiple, then the odds of you also having fraternal twins or other multiples are in your favor.

To all of you identical twins out there, you are a fluke of nature and should feel very special because there is no known scientific method to predict when or how this happens. That is pretty cool in and of itself.

However, if you were hoping to have a set of multiples yourself, then this news may disappoint you because being an identical twin does not increase your chances of having twins.

This is because the process of hyperovulation, as previously mentioned, is the only real genetic trait that can be passed from mother to daughter with a history of fraternal twins in her family. Even a history of fraternal twins or other multiples in your family does not necessarily guarantee you will have multiples. It simply increases your chances.

3. Race

The birth rate of naturally conceived twins worldwide, from mothers of all ages and races, was about 12-16 per 1,000 mothers.

So the odds of actually having twins are relatively low. However, research has found that twins are much more common among Caucasian and black couples, and less common in Hispanic and Asian couples. Of these groups, black women are the most likely to conceive twins and Asian women are the least likely.

4. Age

As you get older, your odds of having twins actually increases. This is due to natural, hormonal changes in your body. Women in their thirties and forties are far more likely to have multiples than women in their twenties.

A study done in the United Kingdom found that the “twinning rate” of mothers over the age of 35 was 21.7 per 1,000 mothers. The “twinning rate” of mothers over the age of 45 was 56.7 per 1,000. Researchers have also found that women over the age of 35 produce more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which may cause more than one egg to drop during ovulation.

FSH is produced by the pituitary gland. In women, FSH helps to control the menstrual cycle as well as the production of eggs by the ovaries. In men, FSH helps control the production of sperm and usually remains constant throughout their lives.

Higher FSH levels are needed as a woman gets older because the eggs in her body need more stimulation to grow than a younger woman. Oddly enough, increased FSH is also due to your fertility levels decreasing but sometimes the follicles can overreact to higher FSH levels and cause two or more eggs to be released during ovulation.

5. Number of Children

If you’ve been pregnant before, then you are more likely to have twins. While the number of other children you have doesn’t directly impact your chances, with each pregnancy you are a little bit older so that itself increases your chances.

6. Your Weight

Your body mass index (BMI) is a tool used to measure body fat based on your height and weight ratio. A healthy BMI for most adults lies in the range of between 18.5 and 24.9. You are considered to be overweight if you have a BMI that falls between 25.0 and 29.9. If you have a BMI that is over 30, you are considered to be obese.

However, researchers have found that women with a BMI of 30 or greater are more likely to have fraternal twins when compared to other women. Also, obese mothers are slightly more likely to have opposite-sex twins than same-sex twins.

While they are unsure of exactly why women with higher BMIs are more likely to have twins, researchers speculate that the rising obesity rates have something to do with the steady rise of twin births since the 1980s. It goes without saying that doctors do not recommend gaining weight in order to increase your chance of having twins.

7. Birth Control

When women use birth control pills, ovulation is suppressed. When women then decide to stop taking their birth control, the ovaries can sometimes “super ovulate,” thus resulting in more than one egg being released from the ovaries during ovulation.

The chances of this happening are extremely high during the first two cycles after discontinuing birth control. In fact, a 1977 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that women who get pregnant after taking oral contraceptives are actually twice as likely to have twins. This phenomenon has become known as the “twin effect” and hasn’t been thoroughly researched since that study in 1977.

8. Taking Supplements

Women who take dietary supplements containing folic acid are more likely to have twins. While many expectant mothers take the vitamin during pregnancy to reduce the risk of having a child with neural-tube defects, like spina bifida, the vitamin also doubles your chances of having twins or other sets of multiples.

Folic acid can even be found in some cereals and bread in the United States so depending on what you eat, you may already be ingesting it without even realizing it. Better be sure to read those labels the next time you’re at the grocery store!

9. Eating Animal Products

Not only does your diet affect your overall health, but it can also increase or decrease your chance of conceiving twins. An obstetrician well known for his care of and research into multiple-birth pregnancies discovered that women who consume animal products are more likely to have twins.

In 2006, Dr. Gary Steinman studied the “twinning” rate between vegan women, who eat no animal products whatsoever, and women who eat animal products. He discovered that women who consume animal products, specifically dairy, are five times more likely to have twins.

The reason for this is thought to be insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which is a protein that is released from the liver of animals and humans. IGF circulates into the blood and eventually finds its way into the animal’s milk. IGF increases the sensitivity of the ovaries to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which then increases ovulation.

In addition to this, high rates of twin births have also been linked to cultures where the diet is rich in a specific type of yams that contain phytoestrogen. This specific hormone has shown to increase fertility in female mammals of all species. One example is the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria which has the highest rate of twins in the entire world.

10. Your Height

In his studies, Dr. Steinman also discovered a link between height and the prevalence of having twins. It turns out that taller women are more likely to have twins. Just like other animals, humans have insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in their livers as well. In humans, this protein is released by the liver in response to growth hormones.

Therefore, taller people experience more growth hormones thus causing them to release higher levels of IGF. Other studies have also suggested that IGF may support embryos to survive in the early and very vital stages of development.

11. Breastfeeding

Women who are currently breastfeeding another child are more likely to get pregnant with twins. Before studying the impact of a woman’s diet and the probability of twins, Dr. Steinman discovered that women who become pregnant while breastfeeding are nine times more likely to conceive than women who are not breastfeeding at the time of conception.

Dr. Steinman concluded that this phenomenon is due to an increase of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with the recent resumption of menstruation combined with lower serum calcium levels in lactating women. So if you’re a breastfeeding mom who happens to get pregnant, don’t be surprised if you get pregnant with twins.

12. Eating Oysters

You’ve probably heard that oysters are a natural aphrodisiac, which is any substance that increases libido when consumed. Well, what you probably don’t know about oysters is that they are known in the medical world for their extremely high zinc content. Zinc is vital for conception.

A zinc deficiency in women can actually disrupt the menstrual cycle and slow the production of good eggs. The high concentration found in oysters helps prevent this and it also helps with sperm production in men which could give you twins. If you or your partner aren’t a fan of oysters, try other zinc-rich foods such as cereal, bread, and leafy green vegetables. If for some reason you can’t consume any of these, consider taking zinc supplements.

So if you’re really hoping for twins or any set of multiples someday, there are some things you and your partner can do now, although there’s not much you can do about the genetic aspects. Although nothing is guaranteed, if you really want those multiples it couldn’t hurt to try changing your diet a bit.

Remember to consult your physician first about any changes to your diet while trying to get pregnant.

1. Spitting on Cake When Blowing out Candles

It’s finally your birthday. Your best friends and family come over to celebrate you, talk about how amazing you are, give you presents, and just celebrate you. Finally it’s time for the delicious birthday cake to come out and your loved ones begin singing “Happy Birthday” to you.

It’s a fun moment and you probably don’t even realize what you’re about to do. You’re about to say thank you by covering the cake with your saliva and bacteria when you blow out the candles. You may think you’re being delicate when you blow out the candles, but no matter how hard you try not to spit or spread your germs, it is inevitable that you will. To be sure this doesn’t happen on your next birthday, lose the candles on your future cakes to avoid this problem or celebrate with cupcakes and put candles on just one.

2. Backpacks

Think about the places you set your backpack throughout the day. Dirty places like gym floors, bathrooms, bus seats, car floors, and any other gross place you can think of. Classroom experiments at Kansas State University found the bottom of a backpack to be dirtier than the top of a toilet seat. Can you believe that?

A big reason for this is that you rarely wash it, possibly due to its material or you think that since it only holds books, papers, and writing utensils it couldn’t possibly get too dirty. To make sure your backpack isn’t disgusting and filled with gross germs, be sure you buy one with material safe for the washing machine and wash it weekly.

3. This video is a must-see for anyone who uses a shower loofah:

4. Dirty Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes are incredibly dirty from things like old makeup, bacteria from your skin, and bacteria from the environment (which could mean things like fecal matter depending on where you store your brushes). Super dirty makeup brushes can cause cause pink eye, skin irritation, excessively oily skin, and even acne.

If you share makeup with friends, be aware that makeup brushes have the potential to spread diseases like herpes as well. Clean your brushes regularly with some baby shampoo depending on how often you use makeup. Even if you don’t use makeup often, it’s a good idea to keep those brushes clean so you’re looking flawless the next time you decide to get all dolled up.

5. Pumping Gas

Kimberly-Clark Professional performed a study to find the dirtiest things people interact with on the way to work. The study found handles of gas pumps to be the dirtiest.

Another study from the University of Arizona found that 71% of gas pump handles are contaminated with germs strong enough to make you ill. Two of the biggest reasons for this are that countless drivers with dirty hands constantly touch the handles throughout the day and no one ever cleans them.

6. Eating While Bowling

There’s no doubt about it, bowling alley food is downright delicious – fries, pizza, nachos, you name it! Sticking your digits in those germ-ridden bowling ball holes and then in your mouth is pretty gross when you think about it.

Think of all the places your hands touch before you even get a chance to order the food. You have to pick up your shoes, pick out your ball, and then enter your information into the computer for the scoreboard. If you decide to eat some bowling alley food, be sure to do it in between games to minimize germ exposure.

7. Taking Your Phone in the Bathroom

People take their phones everywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom to pretty much any place your could imagine that are often breeding grounds for germs.

Cellphones are often stored in warm places that promote bacteria growth such as purses or pants pockets. As a result, they have more bacteria on them than public toilet seats, doorknobs, soles of shoes, kitchen counters, or even a pet’s food bowl. This massive amount of bacteria pressed against your facial skin dramatically increases your likelihood of getting acne.

8. Touching Shopping Carts

Shopping carts are actually pretty disgusting. A University of Arizona study found that 72% of shopping cart handles had traces of feces on them. If you think about it though, nobody probably ever cleans them and they are handles by hundreds of different people on a daily basis.

If you’re wondering how you can ever use a shopping cart again knowing this information, simple bring an anti-bacterial wipe with you the next time you go shopping and wipe that handle down as thoroughly as possible. Then be sure to wash your hands as soon as you get home.

9. Stepping on Bath Mats

One of the dirtiest places in your bathroom is actually the first place you step after cleaning yourself. Because the mat is wet and left to dry on its own, it often houses mold and bacteria. This is especially true for bath mats shared by family members, because the mats are frequently wet, prolonging their drying times.

To minimize the amount of bacteria on your mat, be sure to hang it after each use and wash it at least once each week.

10. Sleeping on Dirty Bed Sheets

You may not consider your sheets to be a cespool for germ and bacteria but they actually really are. Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York School of Medicine has a lot to say about the cleanliness of your sheets.

He says that spores of fungi, bacteria, pollen, lint, as well as bodily excrements like sweat and saliva are all thriving in your dirty sheets. He adds that eating in bed, thus adding food particles to the mix, provides an ideal environment for these bacteria to thrive. The bottom line is that you should wash your sheets every couple of weeks.

11. Swimming in Public Pools

Summer days can seem unbearable in some parts of the country. With triple digit temperatures, sometimes staying indoors and basking in the glory of air conditioning simply isn’t enough. What you really need is a swimming pool and some good friends to beat the summer heat. But before you head to your local pool, you may want to think again.

A 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that nearly 80 percent of routine inspections for public pools turned up at least one safety violation. Of these, about one in eight of these inspections found problems so serious that the pool needed to be closed immediately.

12. Eating Hair

Although fast food is extremely convenient for people on the run, it is calculated that a frequent fast food eater will ingest around 12 hairs per year.

So the next time you’re out and about and feeling hungry, you may want to think again before hitting a nearby drive-thru restaurant.

13. Wearing Perfume

Everyone likes to spray a little perfume every now and then; it smells nice, gives a good impression, and even makes you feel a little fancy. Since perfume is seen as a posh accessory you probably assume that most of the ingredients are delicate and pretty. What you probably don’t realize is that some perfumes contain ambergris to make the scent last longer. If you don’t know what ambergris is, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

But once you find out, you may never want to wear perfume again. Ambergris is actually sperm whale vomit. Fear not, because not all fragrances use the substance. Do a quick Google search to see if your favorite perfumes contain this delicate yet disgusting substance.

14. Sharing Headphones

Ears are actually kind of gross. They contain wax and all kinds of germs that some people forget to clean. If you clean your ears regularly, then you are in the minority.

Even if you are cleaning your ears, other people really don’t. So the next time you think about sharing those headphones or ear buds, you might want to think twice about the person you’re sharing them with. Is it impolite to ask someone to use a Q-tip before borrowing yours?

15. Using Old Sponges

Sponges are necessary to keep your kitchen clean, but they get very dirty very quickly. Instead of wasting money by throwing them away and constantly using new ones, try cleaning them. The best way to clean a sponge is by mixing three-quarters of a cup of bleach with one gallon of water and soaking the sponge for five minutes.

If you’d prefer not to use chemicals, try soaking the sponge for five minutes in full-strength vinegar. Be sure to clean sponges weekly and toss them every two to eight weeks depending on how often you use them.

16. Shaking Hands With Sick People

Refusing to shake hands with someone for no reason is just rude, but during the cold and flu season it’s important to protect your health. If you’re sick, it’s not at all impolite to refuse a hand shake so don’t be afraid to do so—just explain why! Everyone else will thank you. If you’re the healthy one, be sure to have tissues, cough drops, and hand sanitizer handy to keep yourself healthy.

If you’re the sick one, washing your hands often and coughing or sneezing into your upper arm instead of directly into your hands can help keep your co-workers free from illness.

17. Letting Your Dog Lick Your Face

You’ve probably heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than the mouth of a human, so you’ve been happy to receive the sloppy kisses your dog gave you. But a study in the journal “Archives of Oral Biology” concluded that allowing dogs to lick your face is not a good practice. The study found multiple bacteria types that can lead to conditions such as periodontal disease.

So the bottom line is that no matter how cute and perfect your dog is, don’t let him lick your face. Dogs eat and lick everything and you really don’t know where that mouth has been.

18. Keeping Your Toothbrush out in the Open

You keep your toothbrush in a container at the sink next to the toilet, right? Although you are unable to see it, every time you flush your toilet the contents spray in the air and land on the toothbrush. This same effect happens when a man urinates standing up and the urine causes toilet water droplets to splash in the air.

Try keeping your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet or as far away from your toilet as possible.

19. Breathing

Everyone releases gas from time to time (whether you admit it or not). What most people don’t know is that the average human inhales one liter of other people’s bodily gases on a daily basis! You also breathe in pollution, pollens, and whatever else happens to be in the air of where ever you live.

Breathing in polluted air regularly and for an extended period of time can give you health problems in the future such as regular coughing, difficulty breathing, respiratory problems, and irritation of the airways which could potentially result in something more serious.

20. Relaxing in a Hot Tub

Everyone loves to have a relaxing soak in a nice hot tub every now and again. Unfortunately, these oasis-like pools of fun are actually pools of bacteria. The warm and moist environment is a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of invisible enemies. Make sure to bathe thoroughly after you spend some time in one of these. If you own a hot tub, be sure to give it a visual and chemical test it every three to four days especially if it is being used often.

You’ll also need to change the hot tub’s filter at least once a month and don’t forget to wash the hot tub’s cover on a monthly basis as well. For further maintenance, you’ll want to drain the water every four to six months. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to drain the water every four months if you use your hot tub two times or more each week. This doesn’t really help you if you want to relax at your hotel spa, though.

21. Letting Your Cat Wander Through Your Home

Have you ever thought about what it means to own a cat? They’re great and cute, but think about their hygiene habits. They do their business in a little box, walk all over it and kick litter around, and then they are free to wander through your home with fecal matter on their paws.

There are many people out there who don’t even like it when people wear shoes in their home. While there isn’t a whole lot you can do about this, one simple thing you can do is to change the litter often.