Psychological Pregnancy: When the Body Does Not Respond to Reality

According to the World Health Organization, the condition affects approximately one in 22,000 pregnant women worldwide. Psychological pregnancy, also known as pseudocyesis or imaginary pregnancy, is a psychological phenomenon in which a woman experiences the physical and emotional symptoms of pregnancy, despite not actually being pregnant. pregnant. The condition is […]

According to the World Health Organization, the condition affects approximately one in 22,000 pregnant women worldwide.

Psychological pregnancy, also known as pseudocyesis or imaginary pregnancy, is a psychological phenomenon in which a woman experiences the physical and emotional symptoms of pregnancy despite not actually being pregnant. The condition is considered rare and without biological reasons and can persist for weeks or months, being common for it to last the entire nine months as in a real pregnancy. “When we do the tests that confirm the diagnosis of pregnancy, which are Beta HCG and ultrasound, we have a negative blood test and an ultrasound that does not show an embryo. In other words, from a medical point of view, the patient is not actually pregnant, but the body believes that she is,” explains gynecologist and obstetrician Carlos Moraes.

How does psychological pregnancy occur?

Called a multifactorial situation because it does not have a single cause, psychological pregnancy affects patients who already have a history of a psychiatric disorder, which becomes a predisposing factor and can eventually be triggered by the patient’s experiences. According to gynecologist and general psychiatrist Danielle Admoni, some factors that can trigger a psychological pregnancy are:

• Difficulty getting pregnant;
• Psychiatric disorder;
• Infertility situation;
• Abortion, single or repeated;
• Very strong desire to get pregnant;
• Sexual abuse;
• Pressure from your partner or family.

How the body and mind react

In ways that are still unexplained by science, the brain reacts to stimuli caused by changes in emotional state by deregulating hormone production. Endocrine, cortical and hypothalamic functions work together in the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal” axis, giving rise to the symptoms of a true pregnancy.

“Often the patient may not have periods or have discharge from the breasts, all due to hormonal dysfunctions that occur due to the psychological pregnancy,” explains Moraes. These symptoms are experienced with such authenticity that the woman can feel the growth of her belly, the movements of the baby and even the pains and contractions of labor.

And even without giving birth, a woman may insist that the baby will come sooner or later and continue to wait for it. In case of abdominal distension, approximately 60% to 90% of women with pseudocyesis may experience an increase in the volume of the belly. The condition can affect people of any age group, but the most common is after the age of 40 and during menopause.

Is there a cure for psychological pregnancy?

The gynecologist emphasizes that treatment begins with blood tests and ultrasounds, but many women do not believe in psychological diagnosis of pregnancy. “In these cases, it is up to the gynecologist to recommend psychological treatment to identify the origin of the disorder and treat its cause. It may also be necessary to intervene with hormonal drugs to regulate menstruation and stop milk production,” he explains.

The psychiatrist adds that psychological pregnancy is not an invention of the woman. “Pseudocyesis is often the outlet that the brain finds to deal with psychological adversity. Therefore, judgments will only worsen the disorder. The family must provide support, comfort and follow psychological treatment, also to better understand the condition and know how to do it.” to deal with the situation,” he concludes.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.