[ Poll ] Tokophobics- Those who fear childbirth

Children?

No- I avoid sex entirely		14.9%	[ 295 ]
Yes, I want kids- naturally!		19.1%	[ 377 ]
No, I'm super careful with my birth control		16.2%	[ 320 ]
Yes, but I plan on adopting		12.0%	[ 237 ]
Maybe someday?		24.4%	[ 481 ]
I wouldn't mind being pregnant, but childbirth is disgusting		8.1%	[ 159 ]
I haven't thought about it		5.3%	[ 105 ]

Total Votes: 1974

[Cutiebirdgal]

Tokophobia, also known as tocophobia and parturiphobia, is the fear of childbirth. It is specifically defined as the fear of childbirth, but it is also used to describe those with a fear of pregnancy. Tokophobics who fear childbirth rather than pregnancy, however, can successfully become pregnant, they will simply demand a caesarean section rather than giving birth vaginally due to their fear.

There are two recognized types of tokophobia-
* Primary tokophobia is the fear of childbirth which pre-dates pregnancy and can start in adolescence.
* Secondary tokophobia is due to a previous negative experience regarding traumatic birth, poor obstetric practice or medical attention, postpartum depression or other such upsetting events.
Both forms of tokophobia can be treated with the assistance of a trained medical professional or psychologist.
In short, one version of the fear has a distinct cause, while the other happens without a direct stimulus.

The fear of pregnancy can result in avoidance of certain activities (such as sex) due to fear of becoming pregnant, and a general dislike of pregnancy in general. Of course, as with any psychological disorder, there are many levels of severity and other differences.

Take me, for example. I'm not afraid of childbirth so much as I am entirely freaked out by pregnancy. My fear is not so strong as to make me avoid sex, but I am vigilant in my birth control, and the one time I did have a pregnancy scare I became hysterical to the point of harming myself to rid myself of the imagined fetus.

This thread was made as a partner to the Pregnancy Support Thread to help those on the opposite end of the spectrum- those who, instead of wishing to become pregnant, fear it. If there are any questions that come up frequently, I may add them to this section.

Welcome!

[Cutiebirdgal]

The Women Terrified of Childbirth
Social Implications-

Those with tokophobia often suffer from implications not brought on by the condition directly. For example, those who avoid having children are snubbed, mocked, or chastised for not starting a family, and ridiculed for the fear directly if they admit to it. This is because, despite all the progress that has been made in women's rights, women are still expected to have children, and not doing so is seen as abnormal. Even worse, some ridicule those who admit their fear, saying things such as
"Childbirth is a GIFT not a disease. And I know how painful it can be, etc etc. But that's the price you may pay for something unique and indescribable!" (A quote actually taken from this thread)

More harm can come from from pregnancy than from a spider bite, yet I know hundreds who fear spiders. They are not mocked, because no one is expected to like spiders. So, from all who suffer from the fear of childbirth and pregnancy- please have compassion.

[Cutiebirdgal]

Our sister thread, Pregnancy Support, has a lot of information related to safe sex, becoming pregnant, and even some birth control and abortion information, for anyone who is interested! I'm the abortion and birth control person there, and Miss Pregnancy Support herself suggested I make this thread! (Since the banner uses tinyurl, the "Leaving Gaia" screen will pop up, just to let you know; but since we're not trying to scam you, it shouldn't log you out of your account.)

[Cutiebirdgal]

Our new banner- Thank you Sollie and Pregnancy Support!

If you want to put it in your sig and support the thread, here's the code!

[align=center][url=http://tinyurl.com/4ujojs][img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/mrs_ashley/Pregnancy/Tokophobia.jpg[/img] [/url][/align]

[MlRRY]

Oh god yeah, I'm absolutely terrified of pregnancy. I've seen too many horror movies involving birth :(
Other than that, like.. the thought of having a thing growing in you.. just freaks me out. The actual act of giving birth to it seems horrible. I don't have a good pain tolerance, so that would be fun.

[Queen of Hearts`]

I hate the idea of being pregnant, it truly freaks me out. I see pregnant women and to be honest it kind of disgusts me. Having this thing growing in you.. I would hate to be pregnant and never ever want to be. I'm also not keen on the giving birth horror either but 9 months of carrying something around I could not handle.

I don't like babies very much, or children in general but I could see myself maybe wanting to have a daughter in a few years. I would most likely just adopt.

[SinfulGuillotine]

You made a typo in the title. Left the L out of "childbirth."

I'm male, so obviously I don't have that phobia, but a couple of my female friends have described having it.

Honestly, I think that if I were female, I'd probably feel the same way. I really can't imagine any woman wanting to put herself through pregnancy and childbirth.

[Ripper-Roo]

pregnancy disgusts me. having something growing inside of you... nasty.
I'll avoid sex forever if it keeps me from becoming pregnant.

besides, I hate babies. if I want a kid, I'll adopt one that's old enough not to scream obnoxiously at every little thing.

♥ ♥ ♥

[Cutiebirdgal]

SinfulGuillotine

You made a typo in the title. Left the L out of "childbirth."

I'm male, so obviously I don't have that phobia, but a couple of my female friends have described having it.

Honestly, I think that if I were female, I'd probably feel the same way. I really can't imagine any woman wanting to put herself through pregnancy and childbirth.

Whoops! Fixed ^_^;

[crystalstarrlight]

OMG, It absolutely horrifies me, the fact that I'd have to go to the doctors, I heard they take five vials of red from your arm O_O and sometimes 8, you could loose 20 pounds and then having a living thing in you..... it's gotta hurt like hell... i mean, i really think it doesn't look that nice either >_> Next, When you give birth, They could cut you open, or they could cut you in THAT place so the head comes OUT of you,.... AGHHHHHHHHH, and then other people look at you and talk, i'd be horrified with embarrassment!

changing diapers will be a pin, and I'd have to live a sedentary lifestyle (unactive) ... and you can't go anywhere or your baby could fall and you'd be in jail and all that shiz would happen. Sometimes I hear a baby crying and i think of them being thrown off a cliff >_>


I'll adopt hopefully O_O...

[L e l e Lol]

Mirry

Oh god yeah, I'm absolutely terrified of pregnancy. I've seen too many horror movies involving birth :(
Other than that, like.. the thought of having a thing growing in you.. just freaks me out. The actual act of giving birth to it seems horrible. I don't have a good pain tolerance, so that would be fun.

I feel the same way exactly

[Chiba City Blues]

The thought of pregnancy and imagining having a thing growing inside of me actually makes me feel a bit ill. Never. Ever. And thinking about pushing a kid out is even worse. It triggers my gag reflex. And Cesarean sections do not seem like a wonderful alternative. Hello—being cut open and having something alive taken out of my body? I mean, sure, at least then I wouldn't need an to push, or have my v****a sliced open to reduce tearing... but really? Sorry. Anything related to making and pushing out babies just disgusts me. =) It amuses me, because someone actually told me that I'd find someone I'm happy with and start a family in a few years. Hah. Haha. xD

[Cutiebirdgal]

Penguin Bandit

The thought of pregnancy and imagining having a thing growing inside of me actually makes me feel a bit ill. Never. Ever. And thinking about pushing a kid out is even worse. It triggers my gag reflex. And Cesarean sections do not seem like a wonderful alternative. Hello—being cut open and having something alive taken out of my body? I mean, sure, at least then I wouldn't need an to push, or have my v****a sliced open to reduce tearing... but really? Sorry. Anything related to making and pushing out babies just disgusts me. =) It amuses me, because someone actually told me that I'd find someone I'm happy with and start a family in a few years. Hah. Haha. xD

Shall I post the newsweek article citing studies that have shown that people with children aren't as happy as those without?

[Jazzy-Devine]

I wouldn't call it a phobia, but I'm pretty scared of pregnancy and childbirth. It's one of the most scary things in the world. I'm still young though.

[Jazzy-Devine]

Cutiebirdgal

Penguin Bandit

The thought of pregnancy and imagining having a thing growing inside of me actually makes me feel a bit ill. Never. Ever. And thinking about pushing a kid out is even worse. It triggers my gag reflex. And Cesarean sections do not seem like a wonderful alternative. Hello—being cut open and having something alive taken out of my body? I mean, sure, at least then I wouldn't need an to push, or have my v****a sliced open to reduce tearing... but really? Sorry. Anything related to making and pushing out babies just disgusts me. =) It amuses me, because someone actually told me that I'd find someone I'm happy with and start a family in a few years. Hah. Haha. xD

Shall I post the newsweek article citing studies that have shown that people with children aren't as happy as those without?

Ohhh, post it.