A Cross-Sectional Study of Obstetrical and Gynecological Parameters in Twins – A Potential Increase in Premature Rupture of Membranes and Pre-eclampsia in Twin Women

Abstract Background This cross-sectional study of 192 twins across a wide geographical area compared obstetrical and gynecological parameters between twins and the general population. Methods The study is a cross-sectional study. Gynecological variables included age of menarche, abnormal pap smears, birth control usage, endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, gynecological cancer, and osteoporosis. Obstetrical variables studied included pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Chi Square and Fisher’s Exact tests were utilized to compare these binary variables between identical and fraternal twins. Finally, odds ratios were used to compare the rates of PROM, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, ectopic pregnancy, and gestational diabetes among twins compared to the general population using reputable literature sources. Results Identical twins reported the same age of menarche more frequently than their fraternal counterparts (p = 0.0021) with an odds ratio of 4.56 (95% CI = 1.62,12.83). There was also an increase in the odds of PROM 1.37 to 5.42 (95% CI = 0.95,1.96 and 4.21,6.98) and pre-eclampsia 1.17 to 3.16 (95% CI = 0.66,2.09 and 2.16,4.62) in our twin sample verse the general population. Finally, only 9.9% (18/184) reported knowledge of amnionicity and chorionicity. Conclusions Our findings suggest that further large scale research concerning PROM and pre-eclampsia in twin women may be warranted.