Pregnancy is typically an exciting time for expectant moms. Unfortunately for a rare few, feeling pregnant does not always mean a baby is on the way. Some women believe they are pregnant, only to discover that their symptoms were caused by something else entirely.
The following 3 conditions are commonly mistaken for pregnancy:
Thyroid Disorders
When the thyroid gland — which controls the body’s metabolism — is disturbed due to a thyroid disorder, symptoms that resemble pregnancy like fatigue, weight gain and abnormal menstruation may surface.
Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid is overactive. Hypothyroidism is when the gland is slow-moving.
Here’s how hyperthyroidism may be mistaken for pregnancy: “Patients with hyperthyroidism usually report loss of concentration, nervousness, and emotional lability,” as well as heat intolerance, excessive sweating, and muscle weakness, Medscape says.
Here’s how hypothyroidism may be mistaken for pregnancy: Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that hypothyroidism’s inactive thyroid can cause “fatigue, weight gain, constipation, skin and hair changes and abnormal menstruation.”