Ovulation is when the ovaries release a mature egg for fertilisation. It is common knowledge that a woman’s periods stop during pregnancy. The body knows a pregnancy is in process and does not release any mature eggs for fertilisation. But can the ovaries still release a mature egg? Is ovulation still possible despite a pregnancy in progress? Come, let’s find out.
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Ovulation is when the follicles release one mature egg for fertilisation. During a woman’s menstrual cycle, ovulation is the most fertile period as this is when the ovaries release an egg. If the sperm successfully travels up the fallopian tube around this time, it stands a higher chance of penetrating the egg and resulting in a successful fertilisation.
Ovulation usually occurs around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. It lasts only about 24 hours, after which the egg starts descending the fallopian tubes. A sperm can meet and fertilise the egg during this time too, but it increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
If the egg does not meet a sperm during this ovulation period, it is released from the body through menstrual periods.
Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that stop ovulation. The increase in progesterone, along with the pregnancy hormone hCG, signals the brain to stop producing FSH and LH – the hormones responsible for stimulating follicles to grow and release a mature egg.
When FSH and LH hormone levels decrease, the follicles are not stimulated, and the egg does not develop, mature, or get released. Ovulation does not happen when no eggs are released. This is also nature’s way of preventing secondary pregnancy, when a pregnancy is already in progress. This protects the existing pregnancy and prevents complications that can harm the baby in any way.
As unbelievable as it may sound, it is possible to ovulate despite being pregnant. This phenomenon is extreme, but it is still possible. However, there is limited data available about this, as it is extremely rare. So, the exact causes or how ovulation takes place despite all the natural barriers of pregnancy are still unknown.
So ovulation during pregnancy is not a complete myth. Also, remember that only cases resulting in successful pregnancies are known and have made the news due to their rarity. The chances of pregnant women ovulating but not getting pregnant again when already pregnant still exist.
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So, if you can ovulate when pregnant, can you get pregnant again when already pregnant? What if you had unprotected sex during pregnancy, but you were ovulating and fertilisation happened?
Yes, getting pregnant again when already pregnant is possible. It is extremely rare, but there are reports of such pregnancies. This phenomenon is known as superfetation. For this phenomenon to work, the woman’s ovaries must stimulate the follicles to release a mature egg despite the rise in progesterone and hCG hormone. A sperm must successfully cross the mucus plug, travel up the fallopian tube across the barriers caused by pregnancy hormones, and penetrate the egg for successful fertilisation. Next, this fertilised egg must successfully implant itself inside the uterus and develop into an embryo.
Now, the chances of all these events happening at the right time are extremely unlikely, thus making this a very rare phenomenon. However, it is not impossible.
Superfetation is when a woman gets pregnant again while already pregnant. Therefore, her uterus will contain two different fetuses at two distinct stages of growth, each with its own placenta. The placentas can also be merged, but two distinct placentas develop as and when implantation occurs.
When it is time for delivery, it can be quite challenging to decide on the right timing, as both fetuses must be delivered. In most cases, it will be a planned caesarean section where one baby will be developed and the other will be premature.
The doctors will do what it takes to help the second fetus survive despite all odds. The doctors must consider both fetal developments and decide on the optimal time for both. While one fetus cannot wait too long to be delivered, the other may be very premature, thus drastically increasing the risk.
As fascinating as it may sound, superfetation has a high risk of serious complications such as –
● Preterm Labour – The younger fetus has a higher risk of premature birth. The uterine contractions that start when the older fetus reaches delivery time can result in the delivery of the younger fetus, too. Though they may be in two different placentas, they are still in the same uterus.
● Caesarean Delivery – In most such cases, doctors opt for a planned caesarean delivery after carefully calculating and deciding on the dates, to make sure the younger fetus is big enough to leave the womb.
● Nutritional Deficiencies – Since two fetuses at different developmental stages compete for the nutrition, the chances of deficiencies and low birth weight are higher than in regular twins.
● Monitoring – Both fetuses must be closely monitored to ensure both are thriving and growing. It can be challenging to get a clear view of both babies, even with ultrasound scans. The placental position and the babies’ positions influence the visibility.
Superfetation is extremely rare, primarily through natural conception. In most reported cases, it was due to assisted reproductive technology.
According to reports, superfetation has occurred in IVF when natural conception had taken place before the embryo transfer, and was discovered only when confirming a successful implantation of the IVF through an ultrasound scan. A similar pregnancy was reported with artificial insemination.
In a surrogacy case, the surrogate discovered she was carrying her own biological child, 6 months after the embryo implantation. So she was carrying another couple’s baby and her own at the same time.
Some researchers believe superfetation is the error of ultrasound scans where another fetus was missed in the initial scans and discovered later. So, it is technically a twin pregnancy where one fetus was found later and not two separate conceptions that happened at different times.
Since it is a very rare occurrence and records have data only after the second pregnancy was discovered, there is no data about ovulation during pregnancy. Doctors believe it is very rare, but still technically possible.
Unfortunately, one cannot control such rare occurrences due to the lack of any signs or symptoms. Having protected sex even when pregnant can prevent accidental pregnancy in case of ovulation during pregnancy. There are no treatments or medications to avoid ovulation during a pregnancy.
So, is superfetation real? Ovulating during early pregnancy is very rare but still a possibility. Especially in women undergoing assisted reproductive treatments. If you are worried about such an event, consult your fertility specialist and follow their advice.
Yes, though extremely rare, it is still possible. Women undergoing assisted reproductive treatments like IVF, artificial insemination, or surrogacy can conceive while already pregnant. There are no sure ways to know about or prevent such pregnancies, as the number of such pregnancies is very low, resulting in very little data to understand this phenomenon.
When a woman gets pregnant, she stops ovulating. She does not get her menstrual period until after the delivery. Until the delivery, the follicles do not release any mature egg. The absence of a menstrual period is an indication that she is not ovulating during her pregnancy.
Ovulation during pregnancy is extremely rare. The changes in hormones caused by pregnancy will prevent the follicles from releasing a mature egg, thus preventing ovulation. However, one can ovulate during pregnancy, and it will definitely lead to complications in both the pregnancy and the fetal development.
Superfetation is the rare occurrence where a woman conceives when she is already pregnant. This occurs when a second pregnancy develops while a first pregnancy is already underway. Superfetation has mostly happened in (ART) assisted reproductive treatments, where the woman conceives naturally before the transfer of the embryo.
