{"id":228,"date":"2022-08-20T00:58:29","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T00:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/?p=228"},"modified":"2026-01-09T14:59:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T14:59:06","slug":"what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"What is False Pregnancy\u00a0(Pseudocyesis)? Causes &#038; Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #8c233b;color:#8c233b\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #8c233b;color:#8c233b\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/#What_is_a_False_or_Phantom_Pregnancy\" >What is a False or Phantom Pregnancy?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/#What_Causes_Phantom_Pregnancy_or_Pseudocyesis\" >What Causes Phantom Pregnancy or Pseudocyesis?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/#What_are_the_Symptoms_of_Pseudocyesis\" >What are the Symptoms of Pseudocyesis?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/#How_long_Does_False_Pregnancy_lasts\" >How long Does False Pregnancy lasts?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/what-is-false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis-causes-symptoms\/#How_to_Get_out_of_a_False_Pregnancy\" >How to Get out of a False Pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Pregnancy is exciting for many women, especially when they need the baby or are pregnant for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>However, pregnancy is not always easy, and in some rare cases, some women do get pregnancy symptoms but are not pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_False_or_Phantom_Pregnancy\"><\/span>What is a False or Phantom Pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A situation whereby you feel pregnant, have pregnancy symptoms, or even test positive on home test and you&#8217;re not pregnant is referred to as false, ghost, bogus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-false-pregnancy\/\">phantom pregnancy<\/a>, or pseudocyesis.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, a woman will experience many, if not all of the symptoms of pregnancy, but without a fetus and possibly the common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/pregnancy-back-pain\/\">back pain usually experienced in 2nd and 3rd trimesters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\" https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/false-pregnancy-pseudocyesis\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1029\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/What-is-False-Pregnancy-or-Pseudocyesis-Causes-and-Symptoms-by-sexpally-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Meaning of Pseudocyesis, Causes and symptoms\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/What-is-False-Pregnancy-or-Pseudocyesis-Causes-and-Symptoms-by-sexpally-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/What-is-False-Pregnancy-or-Pseudocyesis-Causes-and-Symptoms-by-sexpally-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/What-is-False-Pregnancy-or-Pseudocyesis-Causes-and-Symptoms-by-sexpally-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/What-is-False-Pregnancy-or-Pseudocyesis-Causes-and-Symptoms-by-sexpally.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Causes_Phantom_Pregnancy_or_Pseudocyesis\"><\/span>What Causes Phantom Pregnancy or Pseudocyesis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>False pregnancy is not just about imagining that you&#8217;re pregnant. There are many physical causes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/ectopic-pregnancy\/\">false pregnancy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Psychological factors are also responsible, and often play the biggest role at the beginning, hence pseudocyesis is regarded as a mental illness and categorized under DSM-5.<\/p>\n<p>If the woman&#8217;s desire to be pregnant is so strong, the body may react to it with pregnancy symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s thus the false belief of pregnancy accompanied by pregnancy symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>This strong desire can often be triggered by conditions such as infertility, a miscarriage, or impending menopause.<\/p>\n<p>Physical and mental stress can also cause ghost pregnancy in women.<\/p>\n<p>So in some cases, it can lead to signs such as a bulging\u00a0stomach,\u00a0tender\u00a0breasts, and even a sensation of\u00a0movement\u00a0in the abdomen.<\/p>\n<p>These symptoms are then misinterpreted in the woman&#8217;s brain and the body produces more hormones such as estrogen or prolactin, which can lead to symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>Some studies suggest that factors such as poverty, a lack of education, sexual abuse in childhood, relationship problems, and fear of pregnancy could also trigger pseudocyesis.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\r\n<div id=\"container-8b4e5acc1483aec15f1e66c48060af49\"><\/div><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Symptoms_of_Pseudocyesis\"><\/span>What are the Symptoms of Pseudocyesis?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The following are false pregnancy symptoms, similar to real pregnancy symptoms.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enlarged and tender breast<\/li>\n<li>itchy and tender nipples<\/li>\n<li>Missing your period<\/li>\n<li>Weight gain<\/li>\n<li>Growing belly<\/li>\n<li>Feeling fetal movements in the womb<\/li>\n<li>Nausea<\/li>\n<li>Vomiting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Phantom pregnancy and real pregnancy are very similar. The difference between false pregnancy and real pregnancy can only be ascertained by an ultrasound test.<\/p>\n<p>Pseudocyesis can not test positive for pregnancy if you go for a pregnancy test in the clinic. If your pregnancy is not real, it will fail a positive pregnancy test for the hormone hCG.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_Does_False_Pregnancy_lasts\"><\/span>How long Does False Pregnancy lasts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The duration of false pregnancy symptoms varies. They can last for a few weeks, months, or even years.<\/p>\n<p>In many cases, false pregnancy can go away on its own without any medical intervention.<\/p>\n<p>How long pseudocyesis symptoms last depends on how soon or far you realize you&#8217;re not pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>You can get out of a false pregnancy if you go for a pregnancy test, and see from the ultrasound result that you&#8217;re not pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>In a few cases, women with phantom pregnancies can even go into labor.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Get_out_of_a_False_Pregnancy\"><\/span>How to Get out of a False Pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>False pregnancy can be due to stress, high expectation, and other factors mentioned above.<\/p>\n<p>However, to stop a phantom pregnancy, you&#8217;d need to go for a clinical test to disprove that you&#8217;re not pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>The difference between a false pregnancy and a real pregnancy is a clinical test result where your uterus is carefully examined.<\/p>\n<p>After the ultrasound scan has shown that there&#8217;s no fetus in your belly, and it&#8217;s just a bogus pregnancy, your doctor would recommend psychotherapy to help you correct the feeling of being pregnant.<\/p>\n<p>Your medical doctor can also place you on antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs, especially if pseudocyesis is caused majorly by stress.<\/p>\n<p>Hormonal therapy, and uterine dilation &amp; curettage can also be recommended in rare cases.<\/p>\n<script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '04a192e7868218ddb8ac92cc847dfd77',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 250,\r\n    'width' : 300,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pregnancy is exciting for many women, especially when they need the baby or are pregnant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1558,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions\/1558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sexpally.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}