Psychological Pregnancy - Symptoms and Treatment

Psychological Pregnancy, (pseudocyesis) is an emotional problem that occurs when pregnancy symptoms 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 wish to become pregnant or those who have a great fear of becoming pregnant, as happens during adolescence, for example. In addition to this, psychological pregnancy is also common in domestic animals, being very common in castrated bitches or those that lost their puppies.

Symptoms of Psychological Pregnancy

The symptoms of psychological pregnancy are the same as those of a normal pregnancy, although there is no baby forming, so these symptoms are:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness;
• Cravings;
• Absence of menstruation;
• Growth of the belly and breasts;
• Feeling that the fetus is moving
• Breast milk production.

These symptoms are due to psychological stimuli that generate an increase in the production of pregnancy hormones such as prolactin, resulting in the appearance of the same symptoms of a true pregnancy. See the first Ten symptoms of pregnancy that also appear in psychological pregnancy.


Exams Confirming Psychological Pregnancy

The diagnosis of psychological pregnancy is made through tests such as the pharmacy pregnancy test and the Beta GCH blood test, which will result in a negative result. It is also possible to perform an ultrasound which will show that there is no fetus inside the woman's uterus.

However, sometimes the test results are not enough to convince the woman that there is no real pregnancy, psychological accompaniment being necessary in those cases to treat the problem.

Learn the best days to do 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 getting pregnant;
• Depression and low self-esteem;
• Post-hysterectomy period;
• Intense desire to have a partner or keep the boyfriend by his side.

In addition to this, when there are marital problems, women may think that a pregnancy could save the marriage.

Psychological Pregnancy can also Affect Men

Despite being more frequent in women, psychological pregnancy can also occur in men, usually as a result of an intense connection with the couple's pregnancy. In this case, this alteration is called couvade syndrome, and it is not considered a disease, but a set of symptoms that can appear in men during pregnancy. The father expresses himself psychologically when assuming the pregnancy presenting sensations similar to those of the pregnant partner. Prospective parents may get fat, suffer from dizziness, cravings, crying crises or even depression.

If you are trying to get pregnant, but do not get it, see:  What to do to get pregnant faster.

How to Deal with a Psychological Pregnancy

Psychological Pregnancy treatment can be done with the use of hormonal medications to regularize menstruation and to stop the production of breast milk, but the accompaniment of a psychologist or psychiatrist is also essential to eliminate the causes that led to the development of this problem.

So, some of the medications that may be indicated by the doctor may be the birth control pill to regulate menstruation and cabergoline to stop the production of breast milk. In addition to this, amitriptyline may also be recommended for mood control and treatment of depression, if applicable.

The duration of treatment depends on the understanding and collaboration of women and family members, but it may 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 create a safe environment in which the woman feels loved even without having a baby. Psychology sessions can also help to cope with this situation.