Tokophobia is an extreme fear of pregnancy and childbirth

Tokophobia is an extreme fear of pregnancy and childbirth. Many people experience this, despite really wanting to want to have a child. 

Many people with tokophobia report avoiding conversations about pregnancy and birth growing up, avoiding sexual relationships for fear of falling pregnant or obsessing over contraception.

The experience of tokophobia can cause extreme psychological distress that affects their everyday life. It often leaves individuals feeling misunderstood, overwhelmed, distressed, and traumatised. This can have other implications, including the avoidance of pregnancy, traumatic stress symptoms, relationship breakdowns, termination of pregnancy, and some opting to deliver via cesarean section often under general anaesthetic.

Tokophobia comes in two forms: primary (in those who haven't had a baby before) and secondary (those who have previously had a baby). Women and birthing people with tokophobia in a previous pregnancy are more likely to have it in a subsequent pregnancy, resulting in a potential cycle of anxiety and depression.

It's not easy to define how many are affected by tokophobia but one paper suggests as many as 14% of women worldwide suffer from tokophobia. Tokophobia affects men too, but again, there is very little research on the topic.

The fear of childbirth is sometimes helped through counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and discussing birth options that will best suit the person suffering.

If this sounds like you, let your midwife know. If there is a perinatal mental health service available in your area, they should be able to offer you some help and support. There may also be other local specialist teams available that are experienced wwith looking after women with tokophobia.