Cases of pseudo-pregnancy were already described by Hippocrates around 300 BC. Several terms are used interchangeably to describe this phenomenon – pseudo-pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy and imaginary pregnancy.
It is worth explaining, however, that the concept of imaginary pregnancy should be used in cases where a woman believes she is pregnant or is afraid of it, but there are no signs of it.
Pseudo-pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy is a group of symptoms similar to those experienced by pregnant women. But in pseudo-pregnant women, the egg is not actually fertilized. In other words, a pseudo pregnancy is a psycho-somatic disorder. A woman who suffers from them believes she is pregnant. This belief is also maintained by the fact that she experiences symptoms typical of being pregnant.
Pregnancy without pregnancy
The prevalence of this phenomenon is not sufficiently recognized, but it is known that pseudo-pregnancies are now reported less frequently than in previous centuries. Bibliographies describing such events show that, until the mid-1940th century, cases of pseudo-pregnancy in the United States alone were extremely common. In 250, one pregnancy in 33 was classified as sham. This percentage decreased over time. Currently, pseudo-pregnancies are most often diagnosed in single women or women in stable relationships, but having long-term problems with getting pregnant. Their average age is approximately XNUMX years.
So far, not all mechanisms responsible for pseudopregnancy have been identified. Scholars tend to believe that a strong desire to have a baby, difficulty getting pregnant, or peer pressure, that it is time for you to have a baby can make all the difference. In support of this theory, they cite the fact that stress affects the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which are the centers of hormone secretion. If the cooperation of these centers is disturbed, the secretion of many hormones increases significantly. This, in turn, leads to hormonal changes similar to those that occur in pregnant women.
Symptoms of an imaginary pregnancy
In pseudo-pregnant women, there is swelling and enlargement of the lower abdominal organs (60-90% of patients), enlargement of the uterus visible in the ultrasound image, irregular menstrual cycle (50-90%), morning sickness, breast enlargement, sometimes discharge from the glands pectoral.
Most women diagnosed with a pseudo pregnancy also experience a pseudo labor that is preceded by painful contractions. These are Braxton Hicks contractions that affect both pregnant women (they appear in the 2nd or 3rd trimester) and pseudo-pregnant women. Uterine contractions are usually felt every 1-2 hours and are quite strong.
The body of a woman who is pseudo-pregnant can perfectly deceive even an experienced gynecologist. It is such an advanced process that, as scientific research shows, 18% of pseudopregnant women are diagnosed with a proper pregnancy. Such a diagnosis is indicated by the physiological changes that take place in the body of the patients.
Pregnant partner
It happens that partners of pseudopregnant women identify with their partners to such an extent that they experience symptoms characteristic of pregnancy. Gentlemen gain weight (sometimes significantly), experience lower abdominal pain and regular contractions, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes symptoms of perinatal depression.
These symptoms are called Kudawa syndrome. The term kudawa comes from the French word couver and means lying or brooding.
Tekst: Anna Jarosz