'Twins conceived naturally can have two biological fathers'

Medical experts say that it is possible for twins conceived naturally to have two different biological fathers.

The phenomenon, they say, is known as heteropaternalsuperfecundation — a phenomenon that occurs when two different males father fraternal twins.

They experts say that in general, superfecundationis rare among humans but it is common in animals.

The phenomenon is also referred to as double paternity, even experts warn that the incidence may be substantially higher in small selected groups of dizygotic twin maternities, such as those of women engaged in prostitution.

Researchers describe superfecundation as the fertilisation of two or more ova from the same cycle by sperm from separate acts of sexual intercourse, which can lead to twin babies from two different fathers.

According to experts at the European commercial social networking site for scientists and researchers, ResearchGate, superfecundation is an extremely rare phenomenon.

It occurs when the second ovum (released in the same menstrual cycle) is fertilised by sperm cells from separate sexual intercourse.

Superfecundation can occur only when a woman has had sexual acts within a short period of time from one another, the experts assert.

Again, experts at online platform, The Conversation, state that, for heteropaternal superfecundation to occur, the mother’s body must release two eggs during ovulation that are then fertilised by two sperm cells from two different men.