The World Health Organization estimates that for every 22,000 pregnancies worldwide, at least one is not true! Carlos Moraes, gynecologist and obstetrician, explains that psychological pregnancy is a medical diagnosis, also called pseudocyesis, and is a condition characterized by a woman presenting symptoms of pregnancy, which […]
The World Health Organization estimates that for every 22,000 pregnancies worldwide, at least one is not true!
Carlos Moraes, gynecologist and obstetrician, explains that psychological pregnancy is a medical diagnosis, also called pseudocyesis, and is a condition characterized by a woman who has symptoms of pregnancy, who thinks and believes she is pregnant. “When we carry out 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 in reality she is not pregnant, but she believes she is, and this makes the diagnosis of psychological pregnancy”, she explains.
How can a psychological pregnancy occur?
In psychological pregnancy there is no single cause, which is why it is called a multifactorial situation. These are usually patients who already have a history of psychiatric disorders. In other words, it is a predisposing factor that can possibly be triggered by the patient’s personal experiences. “In this case, this woman has a disorder and has difficulty getting pregnant, infertility, or she has a miscarriage, which can be single or repeated, since she also has a great desire to get pregnant, there are several triggering factors, c “There is no single cause that triggers a psychological pregnancy, it is necessary to carefully evaluate each case”, underlines Moraes.
Furthermore, general psychiatrist Danielle Admoni says that women who have suffered trauma such as sexual abuse, pressure from a partner or family to get pregnant can also develop the disease.
Can men deal with all this?
Psychological pregnancy is a phenomenon that occurs mainly in women. But there is another situation that can happen to husbands, the one in which they live the experience of a pregnant woman. Often, when a woman is actually pregnant, her husband may feel unwell at the beginning of the pregnancy or may experience abdominal pain during labor. In this case, doctors call it Couvade syndrome, which is when a man experiences sensations from his pregnant wife.
The body and mind react
In some way, still unexplained by science, the brain reacts to stimuli caused by changes in emotional state, deregulating hormone production. Endocrine, cortical and hypothalamic functions work together in the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal” axis, resulting in the symptoms of a true pregnancy. “Often the patient may not have menstruation or have discharge from the breasts. All due to hormonal dysfunctions that occur due to psychological pregnancy,” explains Moraes.
Many of these symptoms are experienced so authentically that the woman can feel the growth of her belly, the movements of the baby, the pain and contractions of childbirth. And even without giving birth, she insists that the baby will come sooner or later, and she can wait for it indefinitely. In the case of abdominal distension, approximately 60% to 90% of women with pseudocyesis may experience an increase in belly volume.
Treatment for psychological pregnancy
The beginning of treatment, underlines Carlos Moraes, consists of doing blood tests and ultrasounds, but many women do not believe the diagnosis. «Even with negative results, many women are not convinced that the pregnancy is not real. In these cases it is up to the gynecologist to recommend psychological treatment to identify the origin of the disorder and treat its cause. Intervening with hormonal medications may also be necessary to regulate menstruation and stop milk production,” she explains.
Danielle Admoni also adds that psychological pregnancy is not an invention of the woman, as she truly believes she is pregnant. “Pseudocyesis is often the outlet that the brain finds to deal with psychological adversities. Therefore, judgments will only make the disorder worse. 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 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.
