False pregnancy
False pregnancy is considered to be the most complex psychological disorder in women who insanely want to know the joy of maternal happiness. The desire is so strong that the real symptoms of pregnancy begin to manifest. In fact, the embryo does not develop inside it, and all the symptoms are observed against the background of psychological influence.
The content of the article:
Causes of false pregnancy
Symptoms of a false pregnancy
Treatment of false pregnancy
False pregnancy
False pregnancy in our time does not pose a threat to a woman’s life, but medicine knows of cases when a woman was hospitalized in the ninth month of pregnancy, which turned out to be false. Modern diagnostic methods allow you to immediately distinguish a false pregnancy from a real one.
Most of the patients are young girls who, due to their inexperience, cannot accurately determine the onset of pregnancy. However, age is not an indicator. False pregnancy was manifested even in mature women who had given birth to several babies before this case.
Causes of false pregnancy
Susceptible women who have experienced a strong psychological shock fall into a special risk group. They are often the ones who are very sensitive to pregnancy and think too much about the process of carrying a child. Such thoughts are not necessarily positive, for some women any reminder of children caused indignation, and sometimes became the cause of hysteria. As practice shows, women who have reached the age of thirty-five, but have not been able to conceive a child, suffer from emotional instability.
Experts have identified the following reasons for the manifestation of false pregnancy:
A woman dreams of having a baby, but for a long time she does not succeed;
Repeated miscarriages, the death of a newborn baby or the loss of a child in adulthood;
A woman has an obsession to get pregnant in order to save the marriage and not allow her husband to leave the family;
Pregnancy of a close friend can also cause a strong emotional shock;
Approaching menopausal age;
Unwillingness to get pregnant and bear a child, panic fear of childbirth;
Various diseases of the genitals that have symptoms similar to pregnancy.
If you notice that a friend shows all the signs of a false pregnancy, then advise her to consult a gynecologist and a psychotherapist.
Symptoms of a false pregnancy
This phenomenon got its name for a reason, because the condition of a woman is very similar to a real pregnancy. Accusing a woman of not being able to recognize the signs of an interesting situation is not worth it, she will not be able to do this due to her inexperience. All questions and illusions develop at the first visit to the gynecologist.
The following symptoms of false pregnancy in women are standardly distinguished:
menstrual cycle disorders: scanty discharge or their complete absence;
breast enlargement, nausea after waking up and possible vomiting;
rapid weight gain;
rounding of the abdomen, manifestation of the bend of the vertebra;
sometimes a woman can even feel how the “fetus” is moving;
frequent mood swings, whims and rapid fatigue.
A woman cannot be called a liar, because she really considers herself pregnant and is so strongly convinced of this that the pregnancy test results may be positive. The complexity of the situation lies in the fact that it is very difficult to dissuade a woman from the fact that she is not pregnant, therefore a comprehensive approach to the treatment of the deviation is necessary, both from the gynecological and psychological side.
False pregnancy can also manifest itself in men who are so strongly inspired by the pregnancy of their beloved that they begin to experience the same symptoms as the expectant mother. In this case, the reason for the appearance of such a condition is the empathy of the beloved and an irresistible desire to support her in any situation. In most cases, pregnancy symptoms appear in men under twenty-seven years of age while waiting for their first child. They become particularly sensitive at the twelfth week of pregnancy of their beloved, and this condition continues until the birth of the child.
Symptoms of false pregnancy in men:
nausea, vomiting;
severe drowsiness;
weakness;
pain in the lower abdomen;
mood swings;
depression.
The main reason for the manifestation of all of the above symptoms is a sense of guilt. A man considers himself guilty that a woman experiences suffering and discomfort while carrying and giving birth to his child. In this case, it is enough just to contact a psychologist, and he will help eliminate the psychological disorder. Men who perceive the position of their beloved so strongly are not recommended to be present during childbirth.
Diagnosis of a false pregnancy begins with a general examination of the patient. Gynecological examination will reveal the absence of all changes in the genitals that occur during pregnancy. The most accurate method of diagnosing a false pregnancy is to conduct a special test. A positive result indicates the reaction of components that are constantly produced by the placenta, and indicates the real development of the fetus. To finally verify the correctness of the diagnosis, an immunological, biological examination, ultrasound examination of the pelvis, radiography of internal organs are prescribed.
When diagnosing, it is necessary to clarify whether this is a false pregnancy, just a simulation or fading of the fetus.
Treatment of false pregnancy
False pregnancy in women needs a special therapeutic approach for each patient. It is necessary to remember how important autosuggestion is and not to confuse the desired with the actual. Unfortunately, cases of this kind have not yet been sufficiently studied by psychiatrists, so it is very difficult for a woman to help until she wants to do it herself.
Sometimes the symptoms may disappear after the first visit to the gynecologist. The specialist explains to the woman in an accessible way that she is not pregnant and this may be enough. The situation is more complicated if the patient continues to insist on her pregnancy. In this case, specialists in the field of psychiatry, endocrinology and psychology should be involved in the treatment. It is necessary to find out the reasons that led a woman to such a state, and help her to sort out mental problems.
