Couvade syndrome
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Couvade syndrome, or sympathetic pregnancy, is a psychosomatic condition in which an individual close to an expectant mother, commonly her partner, experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior as the mother near the time of labor. These can include labor pains, postpartum depression, food cravings and restrictions, and sexual taboos.[1] The labor pain symptom is commonly known as sympathy pain.
The term "couvade" is derived from the early French word (Couver "to brood") and originally referred to the medieval Basque custom in which the father, during or immediately after the birth of a child, took to bed, complained of having labour pains, and was accorded the treatment usually shown women during pregnancy or after childbirth.
Couvade has been reported by travelers throughout history, including the Greek geographer Strabo and the Venetian traveler Marco Polo. It has been observed and studied by anthropologists in modern times and is often seen in tribal societies. In some indigenous societies, "sympathetic pregnancy" is attributed to demons or spirits inflicting the symptoms in an attempt to cause problems for the family.
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[edit] Symptoms
Symptoms experienced by the partner can include stomach pain, indigestion, changes in appetite, weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, headache, toothache,[2] cravings, nausea, breast augmentation, and insomnia. In some extreme cases, fathers can grow a belly similar to a 7-month pregnant woman and gain approximately 25 to 30 pounds ("false pregnancy").
[edit] Causes
The causes of couvade syndrome have not yet been determined to a medical certainty, but many theories have been advanced.
Psychological causes may include anxiety, pseudo-sibling rivalry, identification with the fetus, ambivalence about fatherhood, a statement of paternity, or parturition envy.[2]
In "Psycho-Evolutionary" theory, it is thought that couvade is a way to minimize sexual differences in the pregnancy and birthing experience. The couvade may also be a way to establish the father's role in the child's life and to give balance to the gender roles. Couvade is more common where sex roles are flexible and the female is of a dominant status [3].
Studies have shown that the male partner cohabitating with a pregnant female will experience hormonal shifts in his prolactin, cortisol, estradiol and testosterone levels;[4] typically starting at the end of the first trimester and continuing through several weeks post-partum. [4] Suggested explanations of how and why this occurs include an interaction of factors (some of which are little-researched) such as pheromones, circadian rhythms, simple stress, and mitogenetics. It has been suggested that spouse sleep disturbances may affect the neurohormonal. One possible mechanism is the increased basal estrogen levels from peripheral conversion of testosterone by adipose tissue. To date no biologic target has been identified as a cause of this pain syndrome.[citation needed]
Author Gordon Churchwell has written extensively on the hormonal explanation for the phenomena. The peripheral conversion of testosterone to estrogen in adipose cells can cause a surge of estrogen. The hormonal link to pain rests in estrogen's proinflammatory effects and in particular its affect on IL-2 and TNF-alpha release.[citation needed] This theory, has been debunked largely by failed treatment with anti-estrogen pharmacotherapies.[citation needed]
[edit] Treatment
Successful models of care are generally based on managing this condition as psychosomatic in origin.
Individuals who continue to have pain in the postpartum period can be managed successfully with biofeedback. Anxiolytics or antipsychotics are a last resort but have showed promise for refractory pain. The strong association with other Axis II or Axis III disorders suggests that other emotional or psychological disturbances may hinder prompt treatment.
[edit] References
- ^ Counihan, p.69
- ^ a b Klein, 1991
- ^ Abensour, Léon. "Histoire générale du féminisme". http://books.google.com/books?id=Idw8NKD3zD4C&pg=PA11.
- ^ a b A.E. Storey; C.J. Walsh, R.L. Quinton, K.E. Wynne-Edwards (2000). "Hormonal Correlates of Paternal Responsiveness in new and expectant fathers". Evolution and Human Behavior 21: 79–95. doi:.
- Klein, H. Couvade syndrome: male counterpart to pregnancy. Int J Psychiatry Med, 21: 1, 1991, 57-69.
- Counihan, Carole. The Anthropology of Food and Body: Gender, Meaning, and Power. New York: Routledge, 1999.
