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Superfecundation is the fertilization of two or more ova from the same menstrual cycle by sperm from the same or different males, whether through separate acts of intercourse or during a single sexual encounter with multiple males (e.g. double penetration). This can potentially result in twin babies that have different biological fathers.
The term superfecundation is derived from fecundity, meaning able to produce offspring. Homopaternal superfecundation is a form of twinning where fertilization of two separate ova occurs as a result of two or more distinct instances of intercourse or insemination with the same male partner or donor, leading to fraternal twins. Heteropaternal superfecundation, on the other hand, is an atypical form of twinning that results in twins that are genetically half siblings – sharing the same biological mother, but with different biological fathers.
Ovulation is normally suspended during pregnancy to prevent further ova becoming fertilized and to help increase the chances of a full-term pregnancy. However, if an ovum is atypically released after the female was already impregnated when previously ovulating, a chance of a second pregnancy occurs, albeit at a different stage of development. This is known as superfetation.
In 1995, a young woman gave birth to diamniotic monochorionic twins, who were originally assumed to be monozygotic twins until a paternity suit led to a DNA test. This led to the discovery that the twins had different fathers.
In 2001, a case of spontaneous monopaternal superfecundation was reported after a woman undergoing IVF treatments gave birth to quintuplets after only two embryos were implanted. Genetic testing supported that the twinning was not a result of the embryos splitting, and that all five boys shared the same father.
In 2008, on the Maury Show a paternity test on live television established a heteropaternal superfecundation.
In 2015, a judge in New Jersey ruled that a man should only pay child support for one of two twins, as he was only the biological father to one of the children.
In 2017, an IVF-implanted surrogate mother gave birth to two children: one genetically unrelated child from an implanted embryo, and a biological child from her own egg and her husband's sperm.
In 2019, a Chinese woman was reported to have two babies from different fathers, one of whom was her husband and the other was a man having a secret affair with her during the same time.
In 2022, a 19-year-old Brazilian from Mineiros gave birth to twins from two different fathers with whom she had sex on the same day.
Mythology
Greek mythology holds many cases of superfecundation:
See also
Further reading
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