Women who give birth to twins to a greater extent enjoy better health and, as a rule, are more fertile than other women and thus can give birth at a later age. This only applies to those who start naturally.
"These women's innate health contributes to their ability to bear twins, and it also contributes to their longevity. Although some choices they make allow them to stay healthy, women who naturally have twins have some health inheritance from their families," explained demographer Ken Smith of the University of Utah, lead author of the study. research.
Twins may be more common in the same family, but genetic factors also play a role. "It's complicated. There are so many factors that contribute to longevity, health and aging," says Smith.
Dr. Smith's team analyzed a database of 6,4 million people born between the 1800s and today: a total of 4.603 mothers of twins were found. Compared to women who did not give birth to twins, they were statistically less likely to die after menopause. Mothers of twins were older when they gave birth to their youngest child compared to other women, were fertile longer, and had children closer in age. They also lived longer after menopause.
Data show that women who give birth to twins are healthier and more robust, which is why they are able to carry and give birth to two children at the same time. They are expected to live longer than mothers who have not given birth to twins.
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