What Is a False Pregnancy?

A false pregnancy can also be called a psychological pregnancy, because it is explained as the physical reflection of a psychological disorder. In a false pregnancy, even though the woman is not pregnant, her body may show symptoms that mimic a real pregnancy. Various illnesses or psychological disorders lead a woman to think of herself as pregnant, and a false pregnancy develops as a result.

What Are the Symptoms of a False Pregnancy?

The symptoms of a false pregnancy are the same as those seen in a normal pregnancy. For this reason, the person convinces herself that she is really pregnant. The woman's abdomen and breasts may enlarge, her periods may stop, milk may come from the breasts, and nausea and vomiting may occur. Bowel movements may feel like the movements of a baby in the womb, while rising blood pressure may feel like the baby's heartbeat. Likewise, abdominal pain may be perceived as labor pains. Some women experiencing a false pregnancy even claim that the baby can be seen on ultrasound.

What Causes a False Pregnancy?

• A strong desire to become pregnant,
• The possibility of having become pregnant,
• A desire for a child driven by social pressure,
• Being unable to conceive,
• Having had tubal ligation or a hysterectomy,
• Experiencing pregnancy loss (traumas such as miscarriage or stillbirth)
• Conversely, it can also occur in women who are extremely afraid of becoming pregnant.

If there is an underlying psychological illness such as depression behind the false pregnancy, the person needs professional support. If there are problems related to the central nervous system or the endocrine system, they need to be treated, or the cause of the condition in that person needs to be identified and resolved.

If there is an underlying psychological illness such as depression behind the false pregnancy, the person needs professional support.

How Is a False Pregnancy Recognized?

Women experiencing a false pregnancy go to an obstetrician-gynecologist with symptoms seen in pregnancy. To diagnose a false pregnancy, the same tests performed during pregnancy are carried out. The physician first performs a pelvic examination and a physical examination. In the next stage, a urine test and an ultrasound scan may be requested. If no signs of pregnancy are found during these tests, it becomes clear that the pregnancy is not real.

False Pregnancy Treatment

Good results can be achieved in the treatment of a false pregnancy when a gynecologist and a psychiatrist work together. The results of a negative pregnancy test should be conveyed to the patient very carefully and sensitively, because it is very difficult to convince the patient that she is not pregnant. Treatment may include psychotherapy, psychological follow-up if the perception persists and, if necessary, antipsychotic medication.