Heteropaternal superfecundation occurs when a woman releases multiple eggs during ovulation and has se- xual inte- r- course with different partners within a short period of time, leading to the fertilization of each egg by sperm from different fathers.
According to VeryWellHealth, it is possible for twins to have different fathers in a rare phenomenon known as heteropaternal superfecundation.
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Here’s how it can happen:
Multiple eggs are released: During a woman’s menstrual cycle, one or more eggs are released from her ovaries in a process called ovulation. Normally, a single egg is released and is available for fertilization.In some cases, a woman may release multiple eggs during ovulation. This can occur due to various factors such as hormonal imbalances or genetic predisposition. When multiple eggs are released, each has the potential to be fertilized by a separate sperm.
Se- x- ual intercourse with different partners: If a woman has sexual intercourse with different partners in close proximity to each other, there is a possibility that each partner’s sperm could fertilize a different egg. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for several days, so if a woman has intercourse with different partners within a short timeframe, the sperm from each partner may still be viable and capable of fertilizing an egg.
Fertilization by different sperm: If multiple eggs are released and fertilization occurs with sperm from different partners, it can result in twins with different fathers. Each egg is fertilized by a different sperm, leading to the twins having different genetic fathers.
It’s important to note that heteropaternal superfecundation is an extremely rare occurrence. The chances of this happening are significantly lower than for fraternal twins, where two eggs are fertilized by two different sperm from the same father.
Determining whether twins have different fathers usually requires DNA testing. The genetic material of the twins is analyzed, along with the DNA of the potential fathers, to determine the biological relationship