- Psychological pregnancy symptoms
- Is psychological pregnancy positive on the pregnancy test?
- Main causes of psychological pregnancy
- Psychological pregnancy also affects men
- How to deal with psychological pregnancy
Psychological pregnancy, also called pseudocyesis, is an emotional problem that occurs when symptoms of pregnancy are present, but there is no fetus developing in the woman's uterus, which can be confirmed in pregnancy tests and ultrasound.
This problem mainly affects women who really want to get pregnant or those who are very afraid of getting pregnant, as it happens during adolescence, for example. In addition, psychological pregnancy is also frequent in domestic animals, being very common in dogs that are neutered or that have lost their young.
Psychological pregnancy symptoms
The symptoms of psychological pregnancy are the same as those of a normal pregnancy, although there is no baby being formed, such as:
- Feeling sick; Drowsiness; Food cravings; Absence or delay of menstruation; Growth of the belly and breasts; Feeling of feeling the fetus move; Breast milk production.
These symptoms are due to psychological stimuli that generate an increase in the production of pregnancy hormones, such as prolactin, which results in symptoms equal to those of a true pregnancy. See the first 10 pregnancy symptoms that also appear in psychological pregnancy.
Is psychological pregnancy positive on the pregnancy test?
If the woman has a psychological pregnancy, the pregnancy tests, both the urine test and the Beta HCG blood test, will always give a negative result, which can also be confirmed by ultrasound, which will show that there is no fetus developing in the womb in the woman.
However, sometimes the test results are not enough to convince the woman that there is no real pregnancy, in which case psychological counseling is needed to treat the problem.
Find out the best days to take the pharmacy pregnancy test.
Main causes of psychological pregnancy
The most frequent causes of psychological pregnancy are:
- Intense desire to get pregnant and difficulty getting pregnant; Great fear of becoming pregnant; Depression and low self-esteem; Post-hysterectomy period; Intense desire to have a partner or to hold a boyfriend.
In addition, marital problems, which make women believe that pregnancy can save marriage.
Psychological pregnancy also affects men
Despite being more frequent in women, psychological pregnancy can also occur in men, usually as a result of an intense connection with the partner's pregnancy. In this case this change is called couvade syndrome, learn more about it here.
If you are trying to get pregnant but are not getting it, see:
How to deal with psychological pregnancy
The treatment for psychological pregnancy can be done with the use of hormonal medications to regularize menstruation and to stop the production of breast milk, but it is also essential to accompany a psychologist or psychiatrist to eliminate the causes that led to the development of this problem.
Thus, some of the remedies that may be indicated by the doctor may be the birth control pill to regulate menstruation and Dostinex to stop the production of breast milk. In addition, Amitriptyline may also be recommended for mood control and treatment of depression if applicable. See some tips to help cope and overcome psychological pregnancy by clicking here.
The duration of treatment depends on the understanding and collaboration of the woman and her family, but it can take months for the problem to be completely overcome. It is important to remember that an essential part of the treatment is the support of friends and family, who help to create a safe environment in which the woman feels loved even without having a baby. Psychology sessions can also be helpful in helping to cope with this situation.
