Couvade syndrome

Couvade syndrome, also called sympathetic pregnancy, is a proposed condition in which an expectant father experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior as his pregnant partner. These most often include major weight gain, altered hormone levels, morning nausea, and disturbed sleep patterns. In more extreme cases, symptoms can include labor pains, fatigue, postpartum depression, and nosebleeds. The labor pain symptom is commonly known as sympathy pain.

The source of Couvade Syndrome is a matter of debate. Some believe it to be a psychosomatic condition, while others believe it may have biological causes relating to hormone changes.

The name derives from "couvade", a class of male pregnancy rituals.

Symptoms

Symptoms experienced by the partner can include stomach pain, back pain, indigestion, changes in appetite, weight gain, acne, diarrhea, constipation, headache, toothache,cravings, nausea, breast augmentation, breast growth, dry navel, hardening of the nipple, excessive earwax, and insomnia. A qualitative study listed 35 symptoms from Couvade literature, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory, oral or dental, stiffening of the glutes, generalized aches and pains, and other symptoms.

Psychological hypotheses

Psychological causes suggested have included anxiety, pseudo-sibling rivalry, identification with the fetus, ambivalence about fatherhood, or parturition envy. According to Osvlosky and Culp (1989), pregnancy causes the male counterpart to experience an emergence of ambivalence as well as a recurrence of Oedipal conflict. In 1920s France, Couvade was claimed to be more common in conditions where sex roles are flexible and the female is of a dominant status.

Physiological hypotheses

Studies have shown that the male partner cohabitating with a pregnant female will experience hormonal shifts in his prolactin, cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone levels, typically starting at the end of the first trimester and continuing through several weeks post-partum.

Further reading

• Nippoldt, Todd B. (January 15, 2014). "What can you tell me about Couvade syndrome? Can men really experience sympathetic pregnancy symptoms?". Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
• Trethowan, W. H.; Conlon, M. F. (1965). "The Couvade Syndrome". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 111 (470): 57–66. doi:10.1192/bjp.111.470.57. PMID 14261730. S2CID 42948191.
• Lipkin, Mack; Lamb, G. S. (1982). "The Couvade Syndrome: An Epidemiologic Study". Annals of Internal Medicine. 96 (4): 509–11. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-96-4-509. PMID 7199885.
• Trethowan, W.H. (1968). "The couvade syndrome—some further observations". Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 12 (1): 107–15. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(68)90016-0. PMID 5663941.
• Khanobdee, Chantima; Sukratanachaiyakul, Varunee; Gay, Janice Templeton (1993). "Couvade syndrome in expectant Thai fathers". International Journal of Nursing Studies. 30 (2): 125–31. doi:10.1016/0020-7489(93)90062-Y. PMID 8496024.
• Masoni, S.; Maio, A.; Trimarchi, G.; De Punzio, C.; Fioretti, P. (1994). "The couvade syndrome". Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. 15 (3): 125–31. doi:10.3109/01674829409025637. PMID 8000469.
• Bogren, L. Y. (1984). "The couvade syndrome: Background variables". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 70 (4): 316–20. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1984.tb01215.x. PMID 6496155. S2CID 40939221.

External links

• Feeling Her Pain The Male Pregnancy Experience
• "Lecturer investigates hormonal link to 'sympathy pregnancies' in men" (Press release). Kingston University. 24 June 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
• Elusive Couvade Syndrome
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Couvade" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 337–338.