Superfetate (Verb)
Meaning
Conceive when a fetus is already present in the uterus.
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- A woman can superfetate if she ovulates and conceives again while already pregnant, a rare phenomenon where a second embryo develops alongside the first.
- Research on superfetation in humans is limited, but evidence suggests some women can superfetate without realizing it, especially when the interval between conceptions is short.
- The chances of superfetating are extremely low, but in cases where it does happen, the second fetus can continue to develop normally alongside the first fetus.
- Some instances of superfetation may be due to the release of multiple eggs at different times, allowing a woman to superfetate without even realizing she is carrying twins.
- In rare cases, a woman can superfetate with an interval of several weeks between the conception of the first and second fetus, making the resulting birth likely to appear as a normal single birth.