Dr Isaac Tettey Secorm, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Isecorn Medical & Fertility Centre, has shed light on the rare biological phenomenon where twins can have different fathers.
He explained the science behind the condition during an appearance on TV3’s The Afternoon Show with Anita Akua Akuffo on Tuesday, May 5.
Speaking on the topic, Dr Secorm explained that the phenomenon, known medically as heteropaternal superfecundation, occurs when a woman becomes pregnant by two different men within the same menstrual cycle.
Breaking down the scientific terms, he noted that “hetero” means different, while “paternal” refers to fatherhood. He further explained that the possibility of a woman becoming pregnant within a single menstrual cycle is known as fecundability, which he said stands between 20 and 25 per cent chance.
According to him, when a woman becomes pregnant twice within the same cycle, it is referred to as superfecundation.
“Most women release a single egg or ovum within each menstrual cycle. That’s ovulation,” he explained. “Naturally, one follicle becomes dominant and suppresses the others before the egg is released. However, in some women, more than one egg can develop and be released.”
Dr Secorm stated that because women typically have two ovaries, it is biologically possible for separate eggs to be released at different times within the same cycle.
“The right ovary may release an egg in the morning and one man’s sperm fertilises that egg. Later in the evening, the left ovary may release another egg and another man’s sperm fertilises that egg,” he said.
He added that when both fertilised eggs successfully implant in the womb, the result can be non-identical twins with different fathers.
Despite the scientific possibility, Dr Secorm emphasised that the occurrence is extremely rare due to the specific circumstances required for it to happen.
He encouraged viewers to seek proper medical information on reproductive health to better understand such rare cases.
By Abigail Inkoom
