False pregnancy - symptoms, signs in women

Causes

Imaginary pregnancy is a syndrome known for centuries. Previously, such incidence was higher, since for many centuries a woman was seen only in the role of a mother, and her existence was considered useless if she could not start a family. A modern woman has a lot of other responsibilities and problems. Additionally, thanks to technological advancements, many women with fertility problems can become pregnant.

False pregnancy is a rare occurrence; out of 4,000 pregnant women, only one is diagnosed with such a disorder.

Causes of pseudopregnancy:

fear that the husband will leave if there is no child;
uncontrollable desire to become pregnant;
miscarriages;
infertility;
loneliness;
death of a child;
low self-esteem;
childhood sexual abuse;
emotional stress;
fear of getting pregnant (rare);
menopause and the desire to have a child.

The exact cause of this condition is difficult to determine, since this syndrome manifests itself as a combination of hormonal, psychological, physiological and physical factors.

Causes of false pregnancy

The main risk group for false pregnancy is suspicious and susceptible women who have experienced severe mental and emotional shocks. Also, such women may have a very sensitive attitude towards the very thought of pregnancy; they either think too emotionally in a positive sense about the possibility of bearing a child, or, conversely, this thought causes them a storm of indignation.

Women over the age of 35 who have been unable to conceive a child for a long time are susceptible to such emotional surges, and there are several reasons for this for false pregnancy:

a woman desperately wants to have a child, but all her attempts turn out to be nothing;
the reasons for a false pregnancy in a woman may lie in past miscarriages or the death of an already born child;
a woman wants to get pregnant to save her relationship with her husband;
in her environment, a friend or several at once could become pregnant, which emotionally shocked her greatly;
the reasons for a false pregnancy in a woman may be the approaching menopause, before which she wants to become a mother at all costs;
rare, but there is such a phenomenon as a terrible reluctance to have children, fear of bearing a child and subsequent hassle with him;
among the causes of false pregnancy there may be exclusively physical abnormalities. Thus, diseases of the endocrine system or the development of a tumor in the ovaries can be mistaken for a false pregnancy.

False pregnancy also occurs in animals; in women, this phenomenon is observed quite rarely, but regularly. If you notice that one of your friends or relatives has symptoms of a false pregnancy, contact her first to a gynecologist and then to a psychotherapist.

Couvade syndrome in men: causes

Oddly enough, men may also experience symptoms of the disorder. However, in the stronger sex, this usually occurs due to a feeling that is highly identified with the partner. Such psychosomatic disorders develop against the backdrop of all the experiences of a pregnant wife. If she feels nausea, morning weakness and other symptoms that appear when carrying a child, her partner will also feel all this.

Couvade syndrome in men, if it occurs once, will manifest itself with each subsequent pregnancy of the wife.

One of the reasons for this behavior dates back to childhood. In those families where a boy is raised by one mother, or where the father’s opinion is absolutely not taken into account, the child develops modified masculine qualities. Often such men in adulthood strongly associate themselves with their mother, and then with their wife.

False pregnancy - what is it?

False pregnancy (or imaginary, pseudo-pregnancy) is a woman’s psychophysical state in which she is sure that she is expecting a child, experiences the corresponding symptoms, but there is no pregnancy. Such a disorder can appear mainly in very impressionable, suspicious individuals with an unstable psyche under accompanying circumstances.

In very rare cases, men can also experience pseudopregnancy. This again speaks of hypersuspicion, infantilism, and even developing schizophrenia.

Surprisingly, in rare cases, men can also experience pseudopregnancy.

The nature of this pathology has not yet been sufficiently studied. Most doctors tend to consider imaginary pregnancy a mental illness. Nevertheless, it also manifests itself physiologically, which is quite difficult to explain (probably, disturbances occur in the pituitary gland, hormonal fluctuations).

Interestingly, pseudopregnancy is much more common in animals, such as dogs.

How false pregnancy manifests itself in women and men

When the syndrome develops, both partners experience approximately the same symptoms.
More precisely, everything that a representative of the fair sex experiences is transmitted to her man. Manifestations in women:

menstruation disappears;
the breast becomes enlarged and tingles;
the neck softens;
the belly grows;
increases weight;
limbs swell;
toxicosis and dizziness appear;
sleep and appetite are disturbed.

These physical and psychological symptoms often have a negative impact on a woman's general condition.

Manifestations in men:

Diagnosis of imaginary pregnancy

Considering that all the signs of a false pregnancy in women are no different from the true state, a visual examination by a gynecologist will not help make the correct diagnosis.
Stories about severe toxicosis, enlarged breasts and the date of the last menstruation do not allow one to doubt the veracity of the woman’s words. In addition, a gynecological examination cannot always refute her statements. Due to many pathologies or gynecological diseases, a visual examination by a doctor may not reveal the imaginary onset of conception, since signs of pregnancy (enlargement of the uterus and softening of its cervix) can mislead even an experienced specialist.

To be fair, it should be noted that such drastic changes in the body are diagnosed extremely rarely. Most often, an imaginary pregnancy is recognized at the stage of a home test or gynecological examination. The remaining doubts will be dispelled by hardware and clinical studies: ultrasound diagnostics and a blood test to determine the level of hCG in the body. You will also need a biochemical blood test, which will reveal the concentration of important hormones, an excessive amount of which causes sensations of the onset of developing conception.

If with the help of a blood test it is possible to completely exclude the possibility of conception, then the ultrasound procedure will help not only to detect the absence of a developing fetus in the uterine cavity, but also to identify possible pathological changes in the organs of the reproductive system. These include dangerous diseases caused by the formation of a tumor in the uterine cavity or ovarian pathology.

We should not forget that in this case it is extremely important to carry out a differentiated diagnosis, without excluding the possibility of ectopic fertilization or frozen pregnancy. Therefore, radiography of the abdominal cavity in an overview form is often used as a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of pseudopregnancy

When a woman with a false pregnancy is admitted to the hospital, some of the physical symptoms can confuse even an experienced doctor. In this case, a comprehensive diagnosis is prescribed.

Pregnancy test

If the test shows two lines when this syndrome appears, there may be several reasons.

The main ones:

recently had an abortion or miscarriage;
taking fertility medication;
ovarian cyst;
urinary tract infection.

A more dangerous cause may be cancer. Cancerous lesions can generate similar levels of hormones compared to pregnancy.

How is it determined

Since the test may show an incorrect result, and this will only strengthen the woman’s belief that she is carrying a child under her heart, a thorough examination will be required.
Diagnostic methods:

examination on a gynecological chair;
Ultrasound;
blood and urine tests;
X-ray of the pelvic organs.

After a comprehensive examination, the gynecologist will be able to definitively determine the absence of pregnancy.

Cyanosis of the cervix

In a patient who has come up with and believed that she is carrying a child, after a gynecological examination it will immediately be revealed that there are no objective changes in the internal genital organs - cyanosis (cyanosis) of the cervix and vagina. This fact should alert the doctor, because this sign is one of the first when pregnancy occurs.

The main symptoms of an imaginary pregnancy

Among the main signs of the disease are:

irregular or absent menstruation for a long time;
general weight gain;
lordosis or bending of the vertebrae, which is typical for pregnant women;
enlargement and pain in the mammary glands;
morning sickness and vomiting;
increased fatigue and physical weakness;
mood swings, which lead to increased irritability;
unusual tastes in food and cravings for overeating;
a positive pregnancy test associated with hormonal imbalances.

Also, with the active development of the disease, a woman may feel fetal movements. The presence of certain symptoms is determined by the psyche, age and duration of the disease.

Treatment

It is difficult to dissuade a woman from an imaginary pregnancy.
After all, the disorder is associated with a mental disorder. A conversation with a gynecologist will not be enough, so a consultation with a psychologist will be required. The doctor will conduct a course of treatment, which will include a conversation and taking sedatives (Valerian, Sedaphyton, Motherwort). If it is discovered that the symptoms of a false pregnancy develop against the background of hormonal changes, then hormonal drugs (Duphaston, Utrozhestan or Pugeron) will be prescribed.

The syndrome will disappear only when neurological problems are eliminated and hormonal levels are normalized.

Symptoms of false pregnancy

This is called a false pregnancy because the symptoms of a real pregnancy and its “analog” are very, very similar. Therefore, it will be very difficult for an inexperienced woman to confuse the symptoms, although until the first visit to the gynecologist, who will quickly dispel all illusions about this.

The most typical symptoms of false pregnancy in women:

small discharge during the menstrual cycle or its complete absence (and the menstrual cycle itself will not be restored until doctors intervene);
In women, the mammary glands often become enlarged, morning sickness and even vomiting occur;
with a false pregnancy, just like with a real one, the woman’s weight begins to increase, the belly grows and a typical curvature of the spine appears, called lordosis;
with a false pregnancy, just like with a real one, the woman’s weight begins to increase, the belly grows and a typical curvature of the spine appears, called lordosis;
in rare cases, a woman with a false pregnancy feels fetal movements;
A woman’s mood often changes, she begins to be capricious and gets tired quickly.

It is worth noting the fact that with a false pregnancy, the woman does not deceive anyone, because she really considers herself “in the position.” Her false pregnancy can even be confirmed by a pregnancy test.

Despite the fact that false pregnancy is largely a mental disorder, we should not forget about the physical component. It is necessary, together with a gynecologist, to study each individual case, identify the cause of the phenomenon of imaginary pregnancy and start treatment together. But in this case, the difficulty lies in the fact that it is very difficult to dissuade a woman in such a state that she is not pregnant. Here you need a consultation with a psychotherapist.