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Couvade Syndrome: When Expectant Dads Get Pregnancy Symptoms<\/p>\nCouvade Syndrome: When Expectant Dads Get Pregnancy Symptoms<\/p>\n
\nJanuary 16, 2019 \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 By Zawn Villines\n<\/p>\n
\nCouvade syndrome is a condition in which men<\/a> with pregnant partners begin to experience symptoms of pregnancy<\/a>. The causes of Couvade syndrome aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fully understood, though several theories exist. This condition has not been recognized as either a medical or mental health issue.\n<\/p>\n \nCouvade syndrome or sympathy pregnancy occurs when a pregnant woman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s partner experiences pregnancy symptoms. Called Couvade syndrome when it occurs in men, it might also be referred to as pregnant dad syndrome, male pregnancy experience, or sympathetic pregnancy.\n<\/p>\n \nThough symptoms can vary, they usually involve some combination of the following:\n<\/p>\n \nSymptoms of this condition usually appear in the first trimester, around the third month of pregnancy. They improve temporarily during the second trimester, in most cases, and return in the third trimester. Once the baby is born, symptoms typically disappear.\n<\/p>\n \nA similar condition called pseudocyesis, or phantom pregnancy, might be confused with Couvade syndrome. However, pseudocyesis has been recognized as a mental health issue. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders <\/em>(DSM-5<\/a>) as a somatic symptom disorder.\n<\/p>\n \nPseudocyesis, a somewhat rare condition, occurs more commonly in Africa than in Europe or America. Women with this condition become convinced they are pregnant when they are not. They may show pregnancy symptoms such as:\n<\/p>\n \nResearch has suggested several potential causes for phantom pregnancies. Some cases may result from a strong desire to become pregnant, hence why it occurs more commonly among couples experiencing infertility<\/a>. Other cases may occur due to an intense fear<\/a> of becoming pregnant. Some studies have suggested pseudocyesis may develop within the context of depression and its accompanying endocrine changes.\n<\/p>\n \nA number of theories attempt to explain how Couvade syndrome develops. One or more of these factors may contribute to the occurrence of Couvade syndrome, though medical experts still don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know why some men develop the condition.\n<\/p>\n \nSomatic symptoms<\/a> are real physical symptoms that result from emotional distress. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s common for new parents to feel anxiety or stress<\/a> about the birth of their child, no matter how excited or happy they feel. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s believed that feelings of anxiety or stress may lead to somatic symptoms resembling those of pregnancy.\n<\/p>\n \nBecoming a parent<\/a> also marks a change in an adult\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s role in society. This can also lead to feelings of stress and anxiety, whether a person realizes it or not. Researchers have suggested some men manifest pregnancy symptoms as a way of unconsciously dealing with how they feel about their new responsibilities and the changes they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll experience.\n<\/p>\n \nChanges in hormone levels\n<\/p>\n \nSome research has shown men whose partners are pregnant may experience hormone<\/a> changes, such as decreased testosterone and increased estradiol. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible these hormonal changes could contribute to many symptoms of Couvade syndrome.\n<\/p>\n \nMen who are more involved with a partner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pregnancy and have more fetal involvement (listening to the heartbeat, feeling movement, and so on) may be more likely to experience pregnancy symptoms. Participating in pregnancy-related events and being involved in childbirth preparations may lead some men to feel closer to their unborn child and identify more strongly with the role of father. This may lead to sympathy pregnancy symptoms, according to some experts.\n<\/p>\n \nSome doctors believe Couvade syndrome relates to mental health. Common explanations for symptoms include:\n<\/p>\n \nHowever, these are only potential theories, and none have been proven through research.\n<\/p>\n \nMen all over the world experience Couvade syndrome. Studies have found varying rates in different parts of the world, but the most recent statistics suggest Couvade syndrome occurs in about 25% to 52% of men in the United States who have pregnant partners. Though Couvade syndrome appears fairly common, studies on the condition to date have focused on the male partners of women who are pregnant. Very little research has looked at Couvade syndrome in LGBTQ+<\/a> couples.\n<\/p>\n \nMen all over the world experience Couvade syndrome.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \nWhile it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible to experience severe symptoms, many have only a few mild symptoms. Since symptoms disappear after childbirth in nearly all cases, this condition could go mostly unnoticed. But some men may feel confused, concerned, or otherwise distressed about their symptoms. Health care professionals have found it can help to briefly explain the condition to men who experience distress and let them know Couvade syndrome isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t unusual. It may also be reassuring to know Couvade syndrome is often described as a reaction to the changes pregnancy and parenthood bring, not a sign of a mental health issue or other concern.\n<\/p>\n \nBecause symptoms resolve on their own and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t generally pose a threat or cause harm, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no specific treatment recommended for men who have Couvade syndrome. However, there are several strategies that can help ease symptoms.\n<\/p>\nWHAT is Couvade Syndrome (SYMPATHY PREGNANCIES)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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SYMPATHY PREGNANCY VS. PHANTOM PREGNANCY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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WHAT CAUSES COUVADE SYNDROME?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Somatization<\/h3>\n
Feelings of attachment<\/h3>\n
Psychosocial causes<\/h3>\n
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HOW COMMON IS COUVADE SYNDROME?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
CAN COUVADE SYNDROME BE TREATED?<\/strong><\/h2>\n