How do you know if you have pseudocyesis?

The most common physical symptom is a swollen or distended abdomen resembling a baby bump. During pseudocyesis, the growing belly isn’t due to a developing baby. Instead, it may be an accumulation of gas, feces, fat, or urine. The most common physical symptom is a swollen or distended abdomen resembling a baby bump.

Can my body trick me into thinking I pregnant?

Although it is rare, pseudocyesis (“false pregnancy” or “phantom pregnancy”) is a serious emotional and psychological condition. Psychological factors trick the body into believing that it’s pregnant.

Can you get a positive pregnancy test with pseudocyesis?

While women with pseudocyesis report physical signs and symptoms of pregnancy, and they believe with everything they’ve got that they’re pregnant, a phantom pregnancy is missing one key component that is always there in a real pregnancy: a positive pregnancy test for the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic …

Is pseudocyesis a delusion?

It is a true somatic delusion, characterized under schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Delusional pregnancy is common in women during the state of psychosis.

How long can pseudocyesis last?

These symptoms can last for just a few weeks, for nine months, or even for several years. A very small percentage of patients with false pregnancy will arrive at the doctor’s office or hospital with what feels like labor pains.

Is pseudocyesis common?

Pseudocyesis is a rare disorder that affects all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups [2,3]. It is most common in women aged 20 to 39 years, but has been described in premenarchal and postmenopausal women.

Can you be pregnant with no hCG?

An early pregnancy test might pick up very low amounts of hCG. However, it’s possible that you don’t have enough circulating hCG to get a positive result even on a sensitive test. Another common reason for getting a false negative is not having enough hCG in the urine you test.

What if I think I’m pregnant but the test is negative?

If you feel pregnant but had a negative test result, you may have experienced a very early miscarriage (also known as a chemical pregnancy). This occurs when there is a problem with the fertilized egg, most commonly a chromosomal disorder that makes the pregnancy non-viable.

How is pseudocyesis prevented?

Permanent prevention of pseudopregnancy is accomplished with spaying. Once a dog is showing signs of pseudopregnancy, reducing the stimulation for the behaviors may reduce their duration. Removing toys and stopping self nursing behavior by placing e-collars or t-shirts may be helpful.