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Some women notice pregnancy symptoms in themselves even though they are not pregnant. Imaginary pregnancy is a rare condition that most often occurs in women who unsuccessfully try to have a baby. How can you recognize an imaginary pregnancy and what are the symptoms?
Phantom pregnancy – what is it?
An imaginary pregnancy is often also called a phantom pregnancy or false pregnancy. However, according to some sources, an imaginary pregnancy is distinguished from a pretend pregnancy by the presence of somatic pregnancy symptoms. In a phantom pregnancy, the woman experiences symptoms that are indicative of pregnancy. However, this is not confirmed by beta-HCG and ultrasound. The occurrence of false pregnancy is a type of disorder that is classified as a mental illness. It is thought to affect about 1 woman in 22 000 real pregnancies.
Phantom pregnancy – symptoms
The symptoms of an imaginary pregnancy are mainly based on the feelings of a woman who believes she is pregnant. The symptoms of an imaginary pregnancy are similar to those of a normal pregnancy. There may be a lack of menstruation, nausea, breast enlargement and tenderness or nausea and vomiting. Abdominal bloating may also occur. Some women also report feeling the baby’s movements in more advanced phantom pregnancies.
Phantom pregnancy – Cause
It is assumed that hormonal and psychological factors are responsible for the occurrence of an imaginary pregnancy. Women who long very strongly for a child and whose efforts to have a child are unsuccessful have an increased stress level, which in turn causes the prolactin level to rise. This leads to symptoms similar to those of a real pregnancy. Among other things, this is one of the causes of the absence of menstruation. A woman who desperately wants to get pregnant begins to experience the above symptoms and to believe in the success of her efforts. Similarly, women who vehemently avoid pregnancy at a particular time and have a panic fear of motherhood may react in a similar way. Phantom pregnancy can also be an element of schizophrenia.
Phantom pregnancy – treatment
The first step in case of pregnancy symptoms is to take a pregnancy test and visit the gynaecologist. An ultrasound examination and a beta-hcg determination are objective ways to confirm or rule out pregnancy. In the case of a false pregnancy, psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy may be necessary. After the gynaecologist has ruled out a real pregnancy, psychiatric or psychological counselling is recommended in most cases.
