How to Boost Your Odds of Conceiving Twins

Identical twins are the luck of the draw. But you can increase your chances of having fraternal twins -- without fertility treatments.

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Trying to get pregnant? Learn how to increase your fertility and/or overcome infertility with this Howcast video series.

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Steps

Talk to your doctor before embarking on any regimen to conceive twins.
Step 1

Embrace dairy and yams

Eat dairy products on a regular basis. Research indicates that women who do may be up to five times more likely to have twins than vegans. And chow down on yams: They contain a chemical that may cause women to produce multiple eggs, which may be why twin rates are higher in some places where yams are a dietary staple.
Step 2

Gain weight

Consider gaining weight if you're underweight or normal weight. Women who have a body mass index of 30 and above have a better chance of having twins. But you better go on a diet after you give birth: 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a healthy BMI.
Step 3

Plan a large family

Get pregnant. Again. And again. Your odds of conceiving twins increase with each pregnancy.
Step 4

Be older

Try to get pregnant when you're over 35; older women have higher rates of multiple births. But don't intentionally delay having any children at all until then, or you could end up childless: Fertility decreases dramatically with age.
It's possible, though not likely, to conceive naturally until about age 50.
Step 5

Conceive during first post-pill cycle

If you've been taking birth control pills, do your best to get pregnant during your first cycle off the pill; women who do may have a slightly higher chance of conceiving twins.
One study found that women who gave birth to more than one baby at a time averaged an inch taller than the mean height of U.S. women.