A Brazilian woman has claimed to have given birth to twins with different fathers after having sex with two men on the same day.
The anonymous 19-year-old, from Minerios in Goias, Brazil, explained that she took a paternity test because she wanted to confirm who the father was.
She had decided to get the test done because, after eight months, she had doubts about who the father was.
The 19-year-old collected DNA from the person who she thought was the father but, after two tests, the results only came back positive for one of the twins.
She then remembered that she had sex with a different man on the same day and when this second person took a test, it showed he was the second twin’s father.
The 19-year-old, from Minerios in Goias, Brazil, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that she took a paternity test as she wanted to confirm who the father was. She had decided to get the test done as after eight months, she had doubts about who the father was. Pictured: The twins
The 19-year-old, from Minerios in Goias, Brazil, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that she took a paternity test as she wanted to confirm who the father was. She had decided to get the test done as after eight months, she had doubts about who the father was. Pictured: The twins
The phenomenon is scientifically named heteroparental superfecundation.
Speaking to Globo, her doctor Tulio Jorge Franco explained: ‘It is possible to happen when two eggs from the same mother are fertilised by different men. The babies share the mother’s genetic material, but they grow in different placentas.’
He emphasised that the case is extremely rare, and a ‘one in a million’ situation and he did not think he would see one like it in his life.
It has been claimed that there are only about 20 other cases in the world where this has happened.
Local media reported that the children are now 16 months old but Dr Franco only spoke about the case this week.
And now, one of the fathers looks after both children, giving their mother support.
The 19-year-old collected DNA from the person who she thought was the father but claimed that after two tests, the results only came back positive for one of the twins. After the second test, she had a realisation that she had sex with a different man on that same day and claimed that after he took the test, it was positive that he was the second twin’s father.
CAN TWINS HAVE DIFFERENT FATHERS?
Having twins with different fathers is an extremely rare occurrence known as heteropaternal superfecundation. Previous studies suggested the chance of it happening could be between one in 400 pairs and one in 13,000 pairs (file photo)
Having twins with different fathers is an extremely rare occurrence known as heteropaternal superfecundation. Previous studies suggested the chance of it happening could be between one in 400 pairs and one in 13,000 pairs (file photo)
It may sound impossible, but twins being born with different fathers is an extremely rare occurrence known as heteropaternal superfecundation.
Cases typically only come to light when suspicious relatives request a DNA test of a newborn.
But one study suggests heteropaternal superfecundation may affect as many as one in 400 twin births in the US.
Heteropaternal superfecundation occurs when a mother releases two eggs that are then fertilised by two sperm cells from different men.
Women usually have to have sex with two different men within a day before or after ovulation for both eggs to be fertilised.
Although heteropaternal superfecundation is rare in humans, it is relatively common in other animals, including dogs, cats, cows and rodents.
In species where females have multiple partners, some males have even developed strategies to ensure their sperm reaches the egg.
This may include evolving penises that damage the female’s reproductive tract, preventing subsequent mating, as seen in dragonflies.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk