A 25-year-old Spanish transsexual man claims to be pregnant with twins after artificial insemination in the first such case in Spain and in the world, according to media reports Tuesday.

"I am six-and-a-half weeks pregnant," said Ruben Noe Coronado Jimenez, initially named Estefania.

He said he had retained his female status to be able to undergo fertility treatment. "In accordance with newly passed legislation,I will start the administrative process this month to officially change my gender to male," he said.

Coronado Jimenez's 43-year-old partner Esperanza Ruiz was already a mother of two. When the pair learned that she could not have more children, they decided to try to become pregnant with donor sperm after having fertility treatment. Once he becomes a dad he will continue sex change surgery that was interrupted.

The insemination took place at a private clinic, Jimenez said, adding that if all went well he would give birth by Caesarean section in September.

American transsexual man Thomas Beattie made headlines round the world after giving birth to daughter Susan Juliette last June. The 35-year-old man is expecting a second child with wife Nancy this summer.

(Agencies via Xinhua March 25, 2009)