Bad Newz trailer brings to light heteropaternal superfecundation; learn more about this rare condition

The trailer for Karan Johar’s Bad Newz starring Tripti Dimri, and Vicky Kaushal had us in splits! The story touches upon heteropaternal superfecundation, a rare condition where 2 eggs get fertilised by 2 separate sperms belonging to different fathers.

According to a 2020 paper published in Animal genetics, this is a fairly common occurrence in sheep and rams, and quite rare in humans- having reported few cases worldwide.

In conversation with Dr Rohan Palshetkar, Head of Unit Bloom IVF, Professor at Dept of OBGY, D.Y. Patil School of Medicine, we found out what are the causes, risk factors and health hazards associated with this.

“Heteropaternal superfecundation occurs when 2 eggs get fertilised by 2 separate sperms. In women, sometimes, two eggs are released a mont–, and if she has multiple sexual partners, then it might lead to an occurrence where both the eggs get fertilised. However, it is an extremely rare case in human beings, and is more commonly found in sheep and rams,” explained Dr Palshetkar.

Mothers need close monitoring, or else incidence of Caesarian section deliveries might increase (Source: Freepik)

Any risk factors associated with the condition?

Risk factors for heteropaternal superfecundation would come with the fact that it is a twin pregnancy.

“Twin gestations may increase chances of developing diabetes, hypertension, or pre-term birth (where the baby gets delivered before completing its nine month gestation period). In certain cases, these babies can have really low birth weight,” said Dr Palshetkar.

According to him, mothers need close monitoring, or else incidence of Caesarian section deliveries might increase.

Dr Palshetkar said that babies born out of heteropaternal superfecundation develop differently, because of their differing paternal genetics. “These children might differ in height, and develop genetic issues passed on by their respective fathers,” he siad.

He further mentioned that in Indian populations, genetic variation isn’t as prominent compared to the West. Hence, such cases don’t stand out much as they do in the US.

“The only way to identify who the fathers are is by conducting a standard paternity test. Majority of the twins turn out to be fraternal twins, and not identical ones–which is quite a rare occurrence. Thus, a paternity test can better confirm  on top of the likeness between the father and the child,” said Dr Palshetkar.

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