Cryptic pregnancy, sometimes called stealth pregnancy, is when a woman is unaware of her pregnancy; it goes undetected until the end of gestation. A woman who has this type of pregnancy may not have positive results on standard pregnancy tests, and she may not develop any noticeable signs and symptoms of pregnancy. A cryptic pregnancy may occur due to low hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone levels. Some studies suggest that about 1 in 475 women could be unaware of their pregnancy until the 20th week of gestation (1). Curious to know more about this peculiar pregnancy phenomenon? Read on as we explain the vital details about cryptic pregnancy, including its indications and how to prevent it.
Understanding Cryptic Pregnancy
Cryptic pregnancies usually occur in women who have been on birth control methods, reached perimenopause, or have hormonal imbalances. These women come under the ‘least expected pregnancy category’ and experience common pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue and morning sickness mildly, or do not experience anything at all. These symptoms may be mistaken as those of some other condition. The phenomenon of cryptic pregnancy is explained by the following three hypotheses. These hypotheses explain stealth pregnancy in evolutionary terms. These theories are mutually exclusive, which means the occurrence of any one of them implies the nonoccurrence of others (1):
Minor changes in the expression of genes might result in reduced maternal involvement in pregnancy. The conflict between mother and fetus in low levels of hCG hormone supports this theory. According to this hypothesis, the fetal risk is increased, but evidence shows that infants do not have any significant health problems other than low birth weight. Image: iStock
The mother’s body may reject the fetus if hCG levels are low. It may cause spontaneous abortion. Sometimes, the fetus can produce an hCG level that is enough to survive maternal rejection but not enough to trigger maternal involvement in pregnancy.
Cryptic pregnancy can be an adaptive method to avoid stress when a woman is not emotionally and socially ready to be a mother.
What Causes Cryptic Pregnancy?
Several hormonal and psychological reasons can lead to cryptic pregnancy. However, the psychological causes are lower than the hormonal.
What Is The Duration Of Cryptic Pregnancy?
There is no evidence to determine the duration of the gestation period of cryptic pregnancy. That’s mainly because the woman might not know when the pregnancy started. However, a few anecdotal evidence shows that a cryptic pregnancy may last longer than the normal pregnancy as the development is slower due to low hormones. Sometimes, there could be regular periods during a cryptic pregnancy, due to the partial shedding of the endometrial lining. Even in such a case, it becomes difficult to determine the duration. Some cryptic pregnancy cases that have been reported were shorter than the usual gestation period, while some were longer. Hence, the duration is uncertain. Even when the pregnancy is cryptic, it could send you some signals.
Cryptic Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of cryptic pregnancy are similar to regular pregnancy. Note that the symptoms vary from one woman to the other.
Nausea Vomiting Fatigue Food aversions Image: iStock Frequent urination Weight gain Heartburn Headaches Abdominal cramps Backache Metallic taste in the mouth
The symptoms could be similar to those of normal pregnancy. So, how is cryptic pregnancy different from the normal?
How Is A Cryptic Pregnancy Cryptic?
Pregnancy remains a secret because of these reasons:
You may have regular periods throughout the pregnancy due to partial shedding of the endometrial lining, though the number of bleeding days may be less. Also, spotting and bleeding due to implantation could be mistaken for a regular period. Urine and blood tests and ultrasound show negative. Slow pregnancy belly growth as the baby is at the back of the womb (at the spine). Fetal movements inside the womb are mistaken for gas and bloating.
What Happens To The Fetus In Cryptic Pregnancy?
In cryptic pregnancy, the development of the fetus may be delayed and interrupted frequently, taking place at an extremely slow pace. Lack of prenatal care may negatively affect perinatal outcomes (4). However, some women deliver healthy babies after cryptic pregnancy.
How Can Pregnancy Go Undetected After Missed Periods?
Not all women have regular and monthly periods, and a missed period may not bother them. Even if periods occasionally occur, spotting during pregnancy may be construed as menstrual bleeding. The irregular or less flow could be attributed to stress, menopause, or other health problems.
Continued Periods/Bleeding In Cryptic Pregnancy
Most women keep getting their regular periods throughout the cryptic pregnancy, but this does not indicate a miscarriage. It can be heavy, light, or spot bleeding with a few large or small clots. The bleeding can be bright red, pink, brown, purple, orange, or black. It can be like a normal period, sporadic, or random. The bleeding could sometimes last for weeks or months, but all it does is shed away the uterine lining. This results in little or no hCG.
How Is A Negative Test Result Possible?
In a normal pregnancy, the pregnancy test shows negative if it is taken too early or if you fail to follow the instructions correctly. But in a cryptic pregnancy, the result is negative because the level of hCG is negligible. The placenta usually secretes hCG, which passes along the lining of the uterus. It builds up and is shown in the urine and blood. In cryptic pregnancy, the lining of the uterus sheds periodically without giving hCG the scope to build up and show up in tests. Moreover, if you are not anticipating a pregnancy, you would not take the test.
How Does Cryptic Pregnancy Go Undetected In Ultrasound?
In a known pregnancy, the doctor will do a transvaginal ultrasound in the early phase of pregnancy, followed by abdominal ultrasound tests regularly until the due week. However, in most cryptic pregnancy cases, women may not consider going to the doctor or getting an ultrasound. Even if they do, ultrasound scans cannot detect the growing fetus in a majority of women. It may be due to irregular implantation of the embryo, abnormal shape of the uterus, or technical errors in the ultrasound device. The following abnormalities in the abdominal region or uterus may give a false negative result:
Why Does Cryptic Pregnancy Have Longer Gestational Period?
Low levels of hCG hormones may reduce maternal involvement in pregnancy and prevent the body from generating signals essential for baby development. The fetus will thus grow slowly. The babies measure smaller than they should be at various pregnancy phases.
Possible Complications Of Cryptic Pregnancy
There would not be prenatal care, as you are not aware of your pregnancy. The delivery, thus, turns out to be unassisted, at home, or in an emergency room.
Prenatal complications such as hypertension, diabetes, or blood group incompatibility will go undetected, putting both the mother and baby at risk. The mother may not avoid certain habits such as smoking or drinking.
Cryptic Pregnancy Labor
Labor and childbirth at the end of cryptic pregnancy will be physically the same as in normal pregnancy. Unexpected contractions may feel like severe cramps. Women may experience more psychological distress during delivery since they would not be expecting it. The following symptoms may help you recognize that you are in labor after an unidentified pregnancy:
Back pain Nausea Vomiting Hot flashes Chills Dizziness Cold sweats Diarrhea Body ache Pain in the legs that radiates to the thighs Mood swings Pain in the hip and pelvic region Palpitations Swelling of the vaginal walls due to increased blood flow Painful breasts. Sometimes, the pain can be shooting, sharp pain Pressure on the cervix Stabbing pain in the sides, just like you get after running Tugging or pulling sensation in the abdomen which may or may not be painful
You may experience all or a few of these symptoms during labor. In most cases, the actual process of cryptic pregnancy delivery is sudden and does not last long. It may be due to premature birth and low birth weight due to a lack of prenatal care or ignoring and mistaking labor symptoms (3). If you are experiencing intense cramping and uncertain that you are in labor, it is recommended to get immediate medical help.
Real Stories Of Cryptic Pregnancy
Although the case of cryptic pregnancy is rare, there are some surprising stories.
A week before turning 18, Beth complained of experiencing severe cramps. She went to the hospital, where she was asked if she was pregnant. She said she had taken a pregnancy test a few weeks before, the result of which was negative. After that, she didn’t have sex. But soon after reaching the hospital, she delivered a healthy full-term baby.
Klara Dollan, then 22, started her day by going to the office. She had intense stomach cramps, so she left her workplace and reached home. The cramps were turning bad with every minute. Her neighbor arrived and called the ambulance. Until the ambulance came, she started bleeding and then delivered a baby. After reaching the hospital, she was told that it was a case of cryptic pregnancy.
Charlotte Thomson had a flat stomach and regular periods. After a week of the office party, she had pain and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor noticed bleeding and said she is in labor. And then she delivered a healthy baby girl, who was named Molly.
How To Prevent Cryptic Pregnancy?
During the reproductive age, if you are continuously experiencing specific pain or changes in the abdomen or pelvis, you should immediately see a doctor. If you do not get regular periods, and are active sexually, take repeated pregnancy tests. You should speak to your gynecologist about irregular periods and get a thorough checkup. You should also get a checkup done if you think you have entered menopause. Though it is rare, cryptic pregnancy is a real medical condition.
