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Pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life. Then her body changes, thus preparing herself for the role of a mother. It turns out, however, that a woman is not always the only one who feels the effects of pregnancy on herself. Sometimes it happens that a man also suffers from the same ailments that are characteristic of a mother-to-be. This phenomenon is called the cuvada syndrome. What exactly is it and what symptoms is it characterized by? Can cuvada syndrome be cured?
What is a cuvada?
Before we describe what the cuvada syndrome is, however, it is worth telling a bit about the cuvada itself. The term “cuvada” usually refers to different practices related to the gestation period. The name comes from the French word “couver”, which can be translated as “lying down” or getting out. Tribal cultures usually practiced a number of specific pregnancy behaviors. Many traditions concerned not only the woman herself, but also the man who was to become a father. Not only did he behave differently during that time, but the whole community treated him as if he himself was about to give birth to a baby in a few months.
What is the cuvada syndrome?
It is from these different tribal communities that the couvada syndrome, otherwise known as brooding syndrome, was named. Although it is not mentioned very often, the reality is that couvada syndrome affects a surprisingly large number of men. Some researchers say that up to 65 percent of men who live with women who are expecting a baby can experience couvada syndrome.
What are the symptoms of couvada syndrome?
It is very surprising, but a man who suffers from couvada syndrome can have almost the same symptoms as his pregnant partner. The course of the cuvada syndrome is individual for every man. Some people experience most of the ailments felt by women, while others only a few of them. The most common symptoms in men are nausea and vomiting, mood swings, fatigue and sleepiness, as well as dizziness, increased appetite or special food cravings. Many men experience characteristic pains in the spine and abdomen. It is also surprising that their stomachs can grow, and they can develop postpartum depression similar to the postnatal depression experienced by young mothers sometimes.
The symptoms of the cuvade syndrome most often concern men whose partners are in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. It has also been studied that cuvada syndrome is much more likely to affect men who are expecting their first child in their lives than those who have already become fathers.
The cuvada syndrome can sometimes be confused with the so-called alleged pregnancy, but this happens extremely rarely, because a man who experiences the cuvada syndrome can usually keep a greater distance from the changes that
What are the causes of the cuvade syndrome?
The cuvada syndrome is quite a mysterious ailment, but most scientists say that it is psychological and most likely due to a particularly strong bond between a woman and a man. What is especially important at this point, the direct cause of symptoms resembling pregnancy symptoms are hormonal changes in the male body. Most often they are related to strong emotions experienced by a man, realizing that he will soon become a father. In men with the cuvada syndrome, a decrease in testosterone levels is especially observed, with a simultaneous increase in the level of female hormones, such as prolactin and estrogens.
In search of the sources of the cuvada syndrome
The cuvada syndrome has been of interest to researchers in various fields for many years. Many different theories have already arisen around him, but the most common talk is about anthropological sources, i.e. relationships with the tribal culture in which the cuvada tradition was present. There are also medical sources, which are related to hormonal changes and various psychophysiological disorders. There is also much talk about the psychological basis of the cuvada syndrome, which may include such phenomena as jealousy for the unborn child, jealousy for the possibility of having a child, identification with the mother, and the Oedipal conflict. Although it is worth emphasizing here that these are only some interpretations of this very interesting syndrome.
Can cuvada syndrome be cured?
Cuvada syndrome is not a dangerous condition and does not require treatment. During this time, however, it is necessary to continue to maintain the bond between partners and talk about what happens during pregnancy with both the body of the woman and the man. It is important not to underestimate the symptoms of male couvada syndrome, but to look favorably at how the male feels the role of the future father. This syndrome is not referred to as a pathological condition, as evidenced by the fact that it has not been included in the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 classification of mental disorders, nor in the ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases.
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