Question: Can Fraternal Twins Get TTTS (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome)?
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Sydrome is a disorder that impacts about ten percent of monozygotic (identical) twin pregnancies. Find more answers to Frequently Asked Questions About TTTS.
Answer: The easy answer is: No. Fraternal twins have separate placentas and do not share blood vessels, making it impossible for them to develop the abnormal connections that characterize TTTS. The current accepted scientific theory is that only monochorionic monozygotic twins develop TTTS.
However, sometimes the two separate placentas of fraternal twins grow together and fuse, appearing as a single placenta. I have heard speculation that the abnormal blood connections can develop in such a situation, although I have not been able to confirm any documented evidence of this actually happening. Also, in 2003, researchers documented a rare case of dizygotic (or fraternal) twins sharing a single placenta. The researchers did acknowledge that the anomaly might be attributable to the reproductive technology used to produce them.
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However, sometimes the two separate placentas of fraternal twins grow together and fuse, appearing as a single placenta. I have heard speculation that the abnormal blood connections can develop in such a situation, although I have not been able to confirm any documented evidence of this actually happening. Also, in 2003, researchers documented a rare case of dizygotic (or fraternal) twins sharing a single placenta. The researchers did acknowledge that the anomaly might be attributable to the reproductive technology used to produce them.
Return to the FAQ Index
Got a question that's not answered here? Email me at multiples.guide@about.com.
