5 Facts About Sympathetic Pregnancy in Men

Information may not be reliable

This seems like a plot for a comedy movie but in life, such cases are not that rare. This is called sympathetic pregnancy or Kuwada syndrome and is when men suddenly begin to experience all the delights of pregnancy.

1. The Name of This Syndrome Comes from a Real Rite

Kuwada syndrome was named after the ancient ritual rite of childbirth imitation by the husband of the pregnant woman. Immediately after giving birth, a woman went to work around the house and a man went to bed, pretended to have labor pains, then accepted congratulations, and nurtured the baby. 

It is known that this ritual was not local but practiced in all parts of the world. Researchers believe that Kuwada was necessary at a certain stage in the development of society. Scientists did not completely agree on why this rite was needed. Some believe that people tried to deceive the evil spirits and take them away from mothers and babies, while others think that this is how the father confirmed his rights to the child.

2. Sympathetic Pregnancy Is Accompanied by Psychological and Physical Symptoms

Determining a sympathetic pregnancy reliably can be difficult due to the fact that it has a lot of symptoms and some of them are found not only in pregnant women but also in people who are depressed. Most often, an imitation of pregnancy manifests itself from the digestive tract. A person may experience strange addictions or aversion to food, nausea, decreased or increased appetite, morning weakness with nausea and vomiting, pain in the lower abdomen or back pain.

Among the psychological symptoms of Kuwada syndrome are mood swings, moodiness, short-term memory loss, and depression. The husband usually begins to show signs of a sympathetic pregnancy in the third month of his wife’s pregnancy and it intensifies closer to birth. Sometimes they are short and in some cases accompany a person throughout the whole term of pregnancy.

3. Kuwada Syndrome Can Occur Not Only in Husbands

Most often, the husband of a pregnant woman experiences Kuwada syndrome but there are exceptions. In rare cases, a sympathetic pregnancy occurs in the father or another close relative. The close relationship with the pregnant woman plays a key role here. Kuwada syndrome can occur only if there is a very close emotional connection between people.

4. Sympathetic Pregnancy Is Not Uncommon

The exact percentage of those who have experienced Kuwada syndrome is difficult to establish as many people do not pay attention to these symptoms and do not go to the doctor. But there are studies that indicate that up to 52% of fathers in the United States experience signs of sympathetic pregnancy. A 2017 study in Poland showed that 72% of future fathers may have at least one symptom associated with the pregnancy of their wife.

5. There Are Several Possible Explanations for a Sympathetic Pregnancy

The exact origin of Kuwada syndrome is still unknown. Scientists talk about the biological and psychosomatic nature of this condition. A number of studies have shown that future fathers have hormonal leaps when testosterone decreases and prolactin production grows. This causes mood swings and other symptoms. 

Other studies show that sympathetic pregnancy is closely related to empathy. Symptoms of Kuwada syndrome are mainly common in men who are in very close contact with the pregnant spouse, greatly empathize with her condition and are overly involved in her pregnancy. In this case, Kuwada syndrome should not be perceived as a fun feature or a male attempt to attract attention but as a symbol of special intimacy between two parents.