A saliva test can tell if the egg fertilized by the sperm at conception has created monozygotic twins.
- Growing up in utero with a now missing twin is quite common.
- Up to 12% of human pregnancies may begin as multiple pregnancies, but less than 2% of these are carried to term.
In a twin pregnancy, one of the two babies can die before birth, sometimes without anyone knowing. In a study published in Nature Communications magazinescientists claim to have developed a test which now makes it possible to prove that this event went well.
Simple saliva sample
Concretely, it is a simple saliva sample inside the cheek, which indicates whether the egg fertilized by the spermatozoon during conception has created monozygotic twins. The result is more than 60% reliable, according to the researchers.
What will this test be used for? Potentially to identify and therefore treat people suffering from “missing twin syndrome”, a physical and/or mental condition linked to the loss of a twin brother or sister in utero. “Inwardly, the child will develop a certain affective dependence”, explains in Parents.fr Florence Millot, child psychiatrist. “In his relationship with others, this will result in a search for close relationships. Whether in friendship or love, the surviving twin will seek a friend with whom to develop a strong relationship, which can sometimes lead to relational difficulties. At the same time, we will also see revealing signs appear. For example, the child will say “we” instead of “I”, or he will need two objects instead of one. “continues the health professional.
Physiological pathologies
“I always missed this lost brother I think. It exacerbated my fear of abandonment, of not being strong enough and of not being loved as I am, this feeling of being only half…” , testifies on Facebook the designer Yannick Vicente. Missing twin syndrome can also be the cause of physiological pathologies, such as vision problems or spinal malformation.
