Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T01:38:56.209Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Twinning Rates by Zygosity in Japan, 1975-1994

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Y. Imaizumi*
Affiliation:
National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
K. Nonaka
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene, Teikyo University, School of Medicine, Kaga, Itabasiku, Tokyo, Japan
*
National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, 1-23, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The monozygotic (MZ) twinning rate in Japan had remained nearly constant from 1975 (3.74 per 1,000 births) to 1994 (4.23), whereas the dizygotic (DZ) twinning rate had remained nearly constant from 1975 (1.86) to 1986 (2.27), and had gradually increased up to 1994 (3.89). The higher DZ twinning rate since 1987 has been attributed to the higher proportion of mothers treated with ovulation-inducing hormones and partially attributed to in-vitro fertilisation in Japan. As for maternal age, MZ twinning rates have remained nearly constant for maternal age groups except the youngest and the oldest age groups. On the other hand, DZ twinning rates increased up to the 35-39 years of age group and decrease thereafter. In 1994, the twinning rate was higher in DZ twins than in MZ twins for maternal age groups of 30-34 years and of 35-39 years. As for geographical variations in twinning rates, DZ rates statistically significantly increased with the year during the period from 1986 to 1994 in 31 out of 47 prefectures. In 1994, twinning rates in 21 out of 47 prefectures were higher in the DZ than the MZ rate, and the DZ rate is equal to the MZ rate in two prefectures. Geographical variations in twinning rates by zygosity in 1994 drastically changed from those during the period from 1955-1959 and in 1974.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1997

References

REFERENCES

1.Asaka, A, Kato, N, Ooki, S, Amou, Y (1996): Increasing proportion of dizygotic twins among total twin births. In Terao, T, ed. Study on management and care for multiple pregnancies, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, Tokyo, 1995: 207210 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
2.Hiroi, M, Ibuki, R, Noda, Y, et al. (1996): The Committee Report on the Registration for Reproductive Medicine in 1994 (the 7th report). Acta Obst Gynaec Jap, 48: 11821196.Google Scholar
3.Imaizumi, Y (1987): The recent trends in multiple births and stillbirth rates in Japan. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 36: 325334.Google Scholar
4.Imaizumi, Y (1992): Twinning rates in Japan, 1951-1990. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 41: 165175.Google Scholar
5.Imaizumi, Y (1994): Recent and long term trends of multiple birth rates and influencing factors in Japan. J of Epidemiology 4: 103109 (1994).Google Scholar
6.Imaizumi, Y, Inouye, E (1979): Analysis of multiple birth rates in Japan. I. Secular trend, maternal age effect, and geographical variation in twinning rates. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 28: 107124.Google Scholar
7.Japan, Ministry of Health and Welfare: Survey on Socio-Economic Aspects of Vital Events-Plural Births. 1975. Health and Welfare Statistics and Information Department, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, 1977 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
8.Kurachi, Ket al (1983): The outcome of pregnancy following medical treatment to the HMG (Humegon)-HCG. Sanka to Fujinka 50: 274281.Google Scholar
9.Kuroki, Y, Imaizumi, K, Tsunoda, A, Fujii, A, Konishi, H (1992): Survey on the monitoring of congenital anomalies in Kanagawa Prefecture. In Takano, A, ed. Study on effects of community and family environment on children, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, Tokyo, 1992: 6568 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
10.Mizunuma, H, Igarashi, M (1991): Ovulation-inducing hormones (HMG): Its theory and practice. Obsterical and Gynecological Practice 40: 321327 (in Japanese)Google Scholar
11.Mori, T (1987): Progress in reproductive and medical technology. Sanfujinka no Sekai 39: 963966 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
12.Mori, T, Aono, T, Shimizu, T, et al. (1993): The committee Report on the Registration for Reproductive Medicine in 1992 (the 4th report). Acta Obst Gynaec Jap, 45: 397410 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
13.Sawazaki, C, Tsubata, H (1976): Statistics of multiple births in Japan. Sanka to Fujinka 43: 863869 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
14.Weinberg, W (1901): Beitrage zur Physiologie und Pathologie der Mehrlingsgeburten beim Menschen. Arch Ges Physiol 88: 346430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Wyshak, G (1978): Statistical findings on the effects of fertility drugs on plural births. In Nance, WE, Allen, G, Parisi, P (eds): Twin Research: Part B, Biology and Epidemiology. New York: Alan R. Liss, p 1733.Google Scholar