Fake pregnancy: Pathological or self-deceiving & # 8221 ;?

A false pregnancy is a phenomenon where the body shows signs very similar to those who have a real baby. To avoid the unnecessary disappointment of thinking that you are truly pregnant, invite you to aFamilyToday Health to immediately learn the features of fake pregnancy through the article below. 

Being a mother is a very noble and sacred ministry of women. Because of that, sometimes they believe that they are pregnant based on some signs such as delay and menopause, nausea, chest tightness and lactation ... However, these symptoms do not prove they are pregnant. that could actually be the result of other illnesses. 

Through that, we can see that fake pregnancy is the topic that has received a lot of attention from "half of the world". According to experts, this phenomenon is closely related to psychological problems in women. Is this statement really true or not? How can you properly recognize and handle this situation? Let's find out right now!

What is fake pregnancy?

Pseudocyesis is a term used to describe a woman with the same emotional feelings and symptoms as a first-month pregnancy, but it is not. According to the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD10), this condition is classified as a mental disorder. Accordingly, a fake pregnancy can cause you to experience symptoms that match the common signs of pregnancy .

This phenomenon occurs not only in the wife but also in the husband. When present in men, this syndrome can be called a sympathetic pregnancy (Couvede) , causing them to have symptoms similar to their partner's, such as weight gain, nausea or back pain.

Find out what causes false pregnancies

So far, people still cannot explain the main cause of this strange phenomenon, because it has a complex relationship between the cortex, hypothalamus, hormones and psychological factors. However, scientists have given the following hypotheses: 

1. Psychological fear or desire to become pregnant

Mental health researchers believe that the extreme fear or desire for pregnancy is likely to be a factor in the illusion that you have the signs of pregnancy, but they are just the symptoms of pregnancy. fake pregnancy. This psycho-neurological factor stimulates the endocrine system in women and causes symptoms very similar to pregnancy.

2. Pressure to marry

Another theory concerns the pressure to fulfill a woman's duties after experiencing a maternity event such as miscarriage, infertility or pressure from a family after getting married. The desire to fulfill this responsibility causes the woman to misinterpret and misunderstand changes in the body as a sign of pregnancy.

3. Nervous system problems

The final hypothesis emphasizes changes in the chemicals in the nervous system that are involved in depressive disorders in patients. These alterations in chemicals are known to cause false pregnancy symptoms.

Accordingly, anxiety, excessive stress will stimulate the hypothalamus - pituitary - adrenal to know hormones related to pregnancy and childbirth such as estrogen and prolactin. The hormonal changes also lead to problems such as constipation, bloating, weight gain and bowel movements that are very similar to fetal movements. 

Several other health problems can also cause symptoms of a fake pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy , obesity, ovarian cysts, liver, kidney disease or health problems related to spillage. abdominal fluid makes the abdomen expand. If you have an early stage HCG (hormone made up of the placenta) test, the results will be negative even if you have an ultrasound to check. 

The most recognizable signs of fake pregnancy

Recognizing this phenomenon can be difficult if you do not have the pregnancy test. Because the signs of false pregnancy are very similar to normal pregnancy symptoms.

Belly swollen

The most common sign of a fake pregnancy is an enlarged belly. The tummy may get bigger and bigger and look like the baby is growing. However, this is not really a sign of a real pregnancy and the belly of these people will shrink to normal after anesthesia. In fact, this can be caused by:

Flatulence

Weight gain, belly fat gain

Accumulation of waste products (feces, urine)

Abnormal menstrual cycle

Menstrual irregularities are the second most common sign of false pregnancy. According to statistics, about 1/2 - 3/4 of women with delayed, amenorrhea are diagnosed with a false pregnancy saying that they have intense abdominal pain like a mechanical pregnancy during their menstrual cycle despite the fact. not pregnant.

The cause of this problem is due to psychological effects (stress, excessive anxiety) causing hormonal imbalance in the body leading to menstrual disorders .

In case of menstrual delay but want to know exactly whether you are pregnant or not, now you should use a pregnancy test. If the result does not show 2 bars, it means that you are not pregnant, it is just a sign of irregular menstruation. 

Other symptoms

Some of the following signs of false pregnancy are often very difficult to distinguish from a normal pregnancy:

Morning sickness, vomiting (actually this problem lies in the digestive system)

Late period

Tight breasts and sometimes a little colostrum (due to mild hormonal disturbances)

The nipple color changes

Lactation

Weight gain

Stomachache

Increased appetite

The uterus is enlarged.

These symptoms may be so obvious that doctors will also assume you might be pregnant if you don't have more detailed tests.

Diagnosis of false pregnancy

To determine if a woman is a fake pregnancy, a doctor will usually evaluate the symptoms she is having, and perform a pelvic exam and an ultrasound of the abdomen. These are also the tests used to detect and track the fetus during real pregnancy. Occasionally, the doctor will also detect some physical changes that occur during pregnancy, such as an enlarged uterus or softening of the cervix.

If there is a false pregnancy, an ultrasound will show no fetal formation and fetal heart rate. According to the American Pregnancy Association , an ultrasound is the only test that can help you 100% accurately determine if you are pregnant.

In addition, a urine test also helps you get an accurate answer if you have a fake pregnancy, only unless you have rare cancers that are capable of producing hormones similar to pregnancy hormones.

Treatment of fake pregnancy

In fact, false pregnancy is not considered a real medical condition, so it is not possible to use a drug treatment. However, in case the person has problems such as a menstrual disorder or other medical conditions, the doctor will prescribe medicine to improve the health. 

The American Pregnancy Association thinks this is more of a psychological problem than a physical one. Because when a woman believes she is pregnant, especially if this belief persists for a long time, she can be very disappointed to learn that she is just a fake pregnancy. Therefore, relatives and doctors need to be gentle and patient to explain the results, provide psychological support or use psychotherapy to help patients quickly get through the difficult times.

According to Healthline , false pregnancy is a rare phenomenon, but you should still be aware of this condition to avoid confusion about your health. Wish you can soon be able to get pregnant as you wish.