What is a cryptic pregnancy? A cryptic pregnancy, by definition, is one that you don’t have any awareness of. As such, there may not be any typical pregnancy symptoms like fatigue, nausea and vomiting, missed periods, or abdominal swelling.
There are several possible causes of a cryptic pregnancy. A woman might not have typical pregnancy symptoms, or she might get a false negative pregnancy test result. Women with mental health issues might also not realize they are pregnant or be in denial.
Causes of Cryptic Pregnancy
There is no one thing that explains a cryptic pregnancy. However, experts think some of the following may contribute:
1. Lack of pregnancy symptoms: Common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, pelvic cramping, low back pain, and an enlarged abdominal area are different for each woman and may not be noticeable.
2. Irregular menstrual cycle: Irregular periods can make it difficult to know whether you’ve missed a period. This is especially true if your cycle is longer than the average 28 days. For someone who may not experience as many periods per year, the absence of a period may not be an immediate red flag for pregnancy.
3. Intermittent spotting: Bleeding and spotting that can happen during pregnancy may be mistaken for a light period.
4. Age and fertility issues: Pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be similar to early menopause symptoms. If you’ve struggled with fertility challenges in the past, you may find it difficult to believe that you could become pregnant without knowing it.
5. Inaccurate pregnancy test results: Pregnancy tests are usually pretty accurate, but errors can occur. It is possible for a pregnancy test to be negative even when a woman is actually pregnant.
6. No prominent baby bump: For someone who is overweight or obese, a pregnant belly might not be obvious. Some women may simply not gain much weight or begin to “show” until later in pregnancy.
7. Not feeling the baby move: The location of the fetus and placenta can sometimes make it hard to feel your baby move. With anterior placenta placement, in which the placenta is in the front of the uterus, it may take longer to feel the movements and they may be harder to recognize.
8. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS can cause hormonal imbalances that throw off ovulation. This can lead to an unexpected pregnancy that may go unnoticed.
9. Birth Control Use: Birth control isn’t always foolproof. Even when used correctly, it’s possible to become pregnant. Those who use birth control may assume otherwise and ignore signs of pregnancy.
10. Recent pregnancy: Even if you just had a baby, it’s possible for ovulation to occur sooner than you might think. The early signs of pregnancy may not be as clear in a woman who recently gave birth.
Some research suggested that women with certain mental health disorders may find it difficult to accept the reality of pregnancy, leading to denial.