A woman in her sixth or seventh month of pregnancy entered the clinic looking panicked. She urgently told the doctor she was bleeding vaginally and demanded immediate examination to ensure her baby was okay. Surprisingly, the ultrasound revealed no fetal heartbeat or fetus—only an enlarged uterus and several fibroids of varying sizes. What could have happened?
A True Story of Pregnancy
Mrs. Wang and Mr. Wang married later in life, yet years passed without pregnancy. Though Mrs. Wang felt immense psychological pressure and longed to conceive, she didn't know where to seek help.
One day, she suddenly realized her period hadn't arrived for one or two months. As she wondered, "Could I be pregnant?"the very next day she felt dizzy, nauseous, and wanted to vomit. Since the Wangs were farmers, the busy farm work kept her from going down the mountain for prenatal checkups. Plus, the elders in the family thought pregnancy and childbirth were just ordinary things for women, no need for a big fuss at the hospital. So from the moment she felt the signs of pregnancy, she never went for prenatal care.It wasn't until several months later, when the farm work had slowed down, that Mr. Wang finally thought to take his wife to the hospital for a checkup. To their surprise, an ultrasound revealed that all these symptoms were actually part of a "false pregnancy."
Psychological Factors and Medical Conditions Both Play a Role
"False pregnancy" refers to a condition where a woman experiences symptoms mimicking pregnancy, such as cessation of menstruation, nausea, vomiting, and even sensations of fetal movement and abdominal enlargement. However, no actual pregnancy exists, and ultrasound scans reveal no signs of intrauterine or extrauterine gestation.
Psychological Causes: The vast majority of pseudopregnancy cases stem from psychological factors. An intense desire to conceive can trigger the body to produce pregnancy-like symptoms. Typically, in this type of pseudopregnancy, the body's levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) do not rise.
Disease-related causes: Certain medical conditions can mimic pregnancy. While early pregnancy symptoms are primarily due to changes caused by hCG secreted by the placenta, some diseases—such as systemic lupus erythematosus, which commonly affects women—can elevate hCG levels in the blood, leading to pregnancy-like symptoms.Therefore, if an ultrasound shows no signs of pregnancy but hCG is detected in the blood, referral to internal medicine for thorough examination is typically recommended.
Analysis of 4 Major Pseudopregnancy Symptoms
Nausea and Vomiting: These are the most common pseudopregnancy symptoms. However, due to individual differences, not all pregnant women experience morning sickness. Additionally, factors like excessive fatigue, colds, gastrointestinal discomfort, or psychological stress can also cause these sensations, making them unreliable for determining pregnancy.
Absent menstruation: Women experiencing this symptom often have irregular cycles. Psychological factors can disrupt hormonal regulation, potentially causing menstruation to cease for several months. Consequently, when menstruation resumes, it is frequently mistaken for a sign of miscarriage.
Perceived fetal movement: This is often the most perplexing symptom for women experiencing pseudocyesis. However, this sensation is merely intense intestinal peristalsis. During gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and noticeable bowel movements are common occurrences. Yet, because these symptoms closely mimic early pregnancy signs, they are frequently misinterpreted by women longing to conceive.
Abdominal Bulge: Women experiencing pseudocyesis often consume excessive nutrient-rich foods early on. In such cases, the lower abdomen may protrude rapidly, mistaken for pregnancy. Significant abdominal bulging can also result from multiple uterine fibroids or pre-existing obesity.
Medical Pregnancy Testing is Most Effective
Pseudocyesis often stems from a woman's reluctance to confront fertility challenges.In truth, the moment you suspect pregnancy, you should immediately visit an OB/GYN for diagnosis. Regular prenatal checkups can easily prevent confusion with pseudocyesis. For couples struggling to conceive, seeking assistance from an OB/GYN for infertility treatment is the optimal approach.