The exact definition of pregnancy denial and how it can occur in a woman’s life are still highly controversial topics within the scientific and medical communities.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at what we currently know about pregnancy denial.<\/p>\n
Pregnancy denial is when a woman is pregnant but unaware of it. Pregnancy denial is classified into two types: partial denial (which ends before the due date) and total denial (which continues until childbirth, or even afterward).
\nIt\u2019s important to note that pregnancy denial is different from a hidden pregnancy. In a hidden pregnancy, the woman is aware that she is pregnant but chooses to hide it from those around her. In a pregnancy denial, the woman herself is unaware that she is expecting a child.<\/p>\n
It may seem improbable to be pregnant and not realize it, especially since the usual signs of pregnancy<\/a> are so apparent: missed periods, a swollen belly and breasts, etc. Yet, in the case of pregnancy denial, these signs are very subtle or even invisible.<\/p>\n As a result, women who are pregnant but experiencing pregnancy denial may have bleeding that resembles periods, abdominal pain mistaken for digestive issues, and no visible bodily changes\u2014even in women who are not overweight!<\/p>\n This is the main issue with pregnancy denial: it either doesn’t manifest or shows very few signs. Yet most women agree that their bodies change significantly during pregnancy. For women experiencing pregnancy denial, the signs are minimal, absent, and\/or attributed to other health problems:<\/p>\n Despite everything, a pregnancy (even in the case of denial) remains detectable by standard tests and visible via ultrasound<\/a>. Again, the problem is that a woman in the midst of pregnancy denial typically won’t consider whether she might be pregnant. This is another area where healthcare professionals haven’t reached a clear consensus, likely because the causes are multifactorial, specific to each situation, and difficult to identify. In some cases, this rejection can be caused by a non-consensual sexual encounter. For others, believing that they cannot get pregnant\u2014due to an IUD, consistent use of birth control pills, a diagnosis of infertility, etc.\u2014can lead to denial.<\/p>\n Even women who already have children can experience pregnancy denial. There is no specific profile predisposed to it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here again, we still lack information. A woman going through a pregnancy denial is unlikely to consult a medical specialist, making it difficult to study exactly how the menstrual cycle behaves in such cases. As a reminder, it is possible to bleed during pregnancy, but this is not the same as menstruation. The most common causes of bleeding are:<\/p>\n Want to learn more? Feel free to <\/span>download the May app<\/span><\/a>, where you’ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\nHow does pregnancy denial manifest? Can it be detected?<\/h2>\n
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\nOnce the denial lifts, the body changes very quickly, and the belly of a woman who has just discovered her pregnancy late may suddenly become visible in a short time.<\/p>\nWhat are the possible causes of pregnancy denial?<\/h2>\n
\nAmong the possible explanations for the causes of pregnancy denial, psychological factors are frequently cited. For some women, the rejection of being pregnant is so strong that it convinces the mind.<\/p>\nCan you have your period while pregnant during a pregnancy denial?<\/h2>\n
\nMany women affected say they had regular periods during this time. But (as mentioned above), without proper medical exams, it\u2019s hard to determine whether these were actual periods, pregnancy-related bleeding, or disruptions caused by hormonal birth control.<\/p>\n\n
What are the possible psychological consequences of pregnancy denial?<\/h2>\n