This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.Couvade syndrome describes a condition in which healthy men (whose wives are pregnant) develop pregnancy-related symptoms. Although some studies suggest that empathic pregnancy syndrome may be quite common, it has not been recognized as a disease or psychiatric problem to date.
1. Manifestations of empathic pregnancy syndrome
Symptoms reported in association with empathic pregnancy syndrome appear to vary from individual to individual and are usually present only during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy:
Physical symptoms include : nausea, heartburn, upset stomach, bloating, change in appetite, breathing problems, toothache, leg cramps, back pain, irritation of the urinary tract or genital area. Psychiatric symptoms include: sleep changes, anxiety, depression, decreased sex drive, and restlessness.
Hội chứng mang thai đồng cảm có thể mang đến cảm giác đau lưng, đau bụng hoặc ợ nóng
2. How common is pregnancy empathy syndrome?
Empathic pregnancy syndrome occurs in men worldwide. The results of studies show that the prevalence is different in different geographical locations, in the United States alone, empathic pregnancy syndrome occurs in 25% to 52% of men whose wives are pregnant. while in Sweden it is 20% and Thailand is estimated to be up to 61%.3. Hypotheses about the cause of sympathetic pregnancy syndrome
Empathic pregnancy syndrome remains a mystery to this day. Various theories have been proposed to explain the cause of empathic pregnancy syndrome. In addition to psychoanalytic and psychosocial hypotheses, theories about the man's feelings for the soon-to-be-born child, the effects of hormones have also been proposed to explain the syndrome of homozygous pregnancy. cold .3.1 Psychoanalytic hypothesis
The psychoanalytic hypothesis that the empathic pregnancy syndrome stems from a male's craving for female fertility. According to this hypothesis, the wife's pregnancy is the catalyst that re-ignites and gives rise to the husband's oedipe conflict. The pregnant wife causes the husband to go back to the past, to return to emotions from his childhood, causing conflicts with his wife's own pregnancy, such as feelings of rejection, being rejected. neglect, conflict and anxiety, with the growing passivity and dependence according to the development of the fetus, going against the self-control of the man himself.
Besides the above hypothesis, psychoanalysis also has a second hypothesis, that the future father sometimes sees the fetus as a competitor for his wife's attention. This hypothesis suggests that it is also possible that empathic pregnancy syndrome is a defense mechanism in men, allowing a man to realize his wife is pregnant, and spurring his protective instincts. future husband and father.
3.2 Psychosocial assumptions
The psychosocial hypothesis suggests that during pregnancy and childbirth, men are less attentive, especially men whose wives are pregnant for the first time. Motherhood is a woman's vocation, which is particularly valued by society, given priority in work, society, and health, in stark contrast to what a man who is about to become a father receives. Since the 1970s, men have had more access to their wives' birthing processes, but because of this, many husbands feel that they are less attentive than their wives. I also feel like I'm worthless. As a response to this situation, during the wife's pregnancy, the man shows signs of the empathic pregnancy syndrome to attract (unintentionally) the wife's interest. .
Theo giả thiết tâm lí xã hội, đàn ông có hội chứng mang thai đồng cảm vì muốn được sự chú ý
3.3 Assumptions of transition and crisis
The transition hypothesis suggests that the transition to fatherhood is likely to be pathological in nature, related to the heightened stress of a breakthrough conflict within a man. The transition period between the family relationship from husband - wife (2 people) to father - mother - children (3 people) is one of the extremely crisis times for future fathers. This may be due to the fact that the man accepts his wife's pregnancy but does not undergo the physical changes to make the man see this as real. Men do not have biological markers during the transition to fatherhood, which is different from the process of becoming a mother for women. This gives rise to many internal conflicts within the man, including jealousy, competition with the soon-to-be child, worsening conflicts, and manifestations of the empathic pregnancy syndrome. appeared from there.3.4 Hypothesis of hormonal changes
Empathic pregnancy syndrome also seems to be linked to hormones, but studies on this link are currently rare, with only two published, one in 2000 and the other. Another study was conducted in 2001. The results of both studies showed a marked increase in prolactin and estrogen levels and a decrease in testosterone and cortisol levels during the first and third trimesters. pregnancy in the husband. Changes in hormone levels are associated with behavioral changes in expectant fathers as well as symptoms of empathic pregnancy syndrome (fatigue, appetite changes, weight gain).Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
Articles source reference: Mayoclinic.org
