Tokophobia
Tokophobia
Tokophobia (pronounced: toh-koh-FOH-bee-uh) is a pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth. It can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary tokophobia is a deep-seated fear of pregnancy and childbirth in women who have never experienced them. Secondary tokophobia is a fear that develops after a traumatic obstetric event in a previous pregnancy.
Etymology
The term "tokophobia" comes from the Greek words "tokos" meaning childbirth and "phobos" meaning fear.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tokophobia can include intense anxiety or fear that leads to avoidance of childbirth, nightmares about childbirth, and preoccupation with the potential dangers of childbirth. It can also lead to decisions to avoid pregnancy altogether, or to seek cesarean section or abortion as alternatives to vaginal birth.
Causes
The causes of tokophobia are not fully understood, but may include previous traumatic experiences related to pregnancy or childbirth, fear of pain, fear of losing control, fear of injury or death, and cultural or societal attitudes towards childbirth.
Treatment
Treatment for tokophobia often involves psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Medication may also be used to manage symptoms of anxiety. In some cases, a planned cesarean section may be considered.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tokophobia
- Wikipedia's article - Tokophobia
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