Can Twins Have Different Fathers?

Yes! Fraternal (DZ) twins develop when a woman releases two eggs instead of one during her monthly menstrual cycle. When this occurs and each egg is fertilized by sperm cells from the same man, DZ twins with the same father are created. While rare, it is possible that each egg could be fertilized by a sperm cell from two different men. This could happen as a result of separate acts of sexual intercourse that occur within the woman’s fertile period, known as heteropaternal superfecundation. DZ twins with different fathers would be created. Twins with different fathers may also result from fertility treatments in which a mixture of sperm from more than one sperm donor is used.