Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Review

Juan J Tarín¹  Antonio Cano²  Miguel A García-Pérez³  Carlos Hermenegildo⁴ 

[1] Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain;Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46100, Valencia, Spain;Service of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Dr. Peset, 46017, Valencia, Spain;Research Unit-INCLIVA, Hospital Clínico de Valencia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46100, Valencia, Spain;Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain;Research Unit-INCLIVA, Hospital Clínico de Valencia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46100, Valencia, Spain;Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46100, Valencia, Spain;

关键词: Catecholamines;    Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis;    Major depression disorder;    Polycystic ovarian syndrome;    Sympathetic nervous system;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7827-11-39

 received in 2013-02-22, accepted in 2013-05-02,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

This literature review on pseudocyesis or false pregnancy aims to find epidemiological, psychiatric/psychologic, gynecological and endocrine traits associated with this condition in order to propose neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms leading to the emergence of pseudocyetic traits. Ten women from 5 selected studies were analyzed after applying stringent criteria to discriminate between cases of true pseudocyesis (pseudocyesis vera) versus delusional, simulated or erroneous pseudocyesis. The analysis of the reviewed studies evidenced that pseudocyesis shares many endocrine traits with both polycystic ovarian syndrome and major depressive disorder, although the endocrine traits are more akin to polycystic ovarian syndrome than to major depressive disorder. Data support the notion that pseudocyetic women may have increased sympathetic nervous system activity, dysfunction of central nervous system catecholaminergic pathways and decreased steroid feedback inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Although other neuroendocrine/endocrine pathways may be involved, the neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms proposed in this review may lead to the development of pseudocyetic traits including hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea, galactorrhea, diurnal and/or nocturnal hyperprolactinemia, abdominal distension and apparent fetal movements and labor pains at the expected date of delivery.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Tarín et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013