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Recent secular trends in dizygotic twinning rates in Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

William H. James
William H. James
Affiliation:
MRC Mammalian Development Unit, University College London
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Summary

In all European countries for which data exist, there was a maternal-age-specific decline in dizygotic twinning rates during the 1960s. For most of these countries, this decline continued through the 1970s, but in a few it apparently ceased. The causes of the declines and of their abatement are unknown. However, there were declines in sperm quality during the 1960s and 1970s in some parts of the world, including parts of Europe, and it is speculated here that this decline in sperm quality may be related to the decline in dizygotic twinning.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , October 1986 , pp. 497 - 504
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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