Woman Pregnant With 12? Officials Doubtful

Tunisian authorities are investigating a claim that a woman in Tunisia is pregnant with 12 babies.

French and British media reported the woman will soon give birth to six girls and six boys.

If true, the woman would shatter the world record for births, set earlier this year by American Nadia Suleman, whose birth of octuplets launched a media frenzy and earned her the nickname "Octomom."

But a Health Ministry official in Tunisia said Tuesday the claim seemed doubtful and that the woman - who has not been identified - has refused to see a doctor for an ultrasound.

Another Health Ministry official said a team was sent to the southern town of Gafsa to try to meet the woman.

The officials, not authorized to speak publicly about the case, asked not to be named.

According to the Sun, the woman - a teacher - and her husband were expecting twins after undergoing fertility treatments.

"But more fetuses were discovered. Our joy increased with the growing number," the Sun quotes the husband, identified only as Marwan, as saying.

The nature of the fertility treatment - whether it was in vitro or a procedure called ovulation induction treatment - isn't known, according to the Sun.