Couvade syndrome is a psychological disorder that affects certain men who think they have the same symptoms that their pregnant woman may have. Such syndrome occurs when a new couple is expecting their first baby. Although at first it may seem unusual and in a certain way incredible, the truth is that there are many men who can suffer from this syndrome during the months of their wife's pregnancy.
Then we will tell you much more about this curious syndrome and one of the most common symptoms that a man with such a disorder usually has.
What is Couvade syndrome?
Couvade syndrome, as we have already mentioned above, is a mental disorder that affects some men, coming to believe that they suffer the same symptoms as those of their pregnant women. The main reason why it is believed that such a syndrome can be suffered may be due to the great empathy that the man can feel towards the pregnancy of his wife. Although it is a psychological disorder, the truth is that it can cause a strong hormonal alteration in the body of men who suffer from it. Couvade syndrome must be differentiated from the psychological pregnancy that some women usually suffer although in both types of disorders the mind is capable of causing important changes in the body. Then we will talk about the most common symptoms and the causes why a man can feel this in his body.
Symptoms of Couvade syndrome
The symptoms of this type of syndrome usually appear during the first three months of pregnancy and disappear without more when the couple gives birth to the baby. To this day, Couvade syndrome is not considered serious for the man who suffers from it. since it does not endanger your life at all and your health is not affected excessively. As for the symptoms, the most common are:
- Vomiting and nausea at first hour of the morning.
- Continuous mood swings throughout the day and strong irritability.
- Repulsion before some smells or flavors of certain foods.
- Stomach problems as is the case with diarrhea.
- Severe abdominal pain that may remind of a contraction.
As you can see, it is a series of quite annoying and uncomfortable symptoms that remind those of any woman who is pregnant.
Causes of Couvade syndrome
There are several causes that can cause a man to end up having such a psychological or mental disorder:
- Hormonal changes that suffers man seeing his pregnant wife.
- The empathy that a man can feel before his partner's pregnancy and wanting to share the burden of it at all times.
- Future parenthood is something that often causes strong stress and anxiety in men. Excess stress is related to low testosterone leading to such a disorder.
- Jealousy can be another reason why a man comes to suffer from Couvade syndrome. They can feel them about the mother, for having the baby inside her and being able to feel at all times how she is developing or even in front of the future baby.
As you have seen, Couvade syndrome can cause quite annoying and uncomfortable symptoms in men, although it is not something serious that can be a serious health problem. Either way and in the event that this occurs, it is advisable to go to a professional so that he can treat such disorder and solve the problems. In many cases, pregnancy is especially hard for the couple since apart from the symptoms of the pregnant woman, the man also suffers from such symptoms.