How common is cryptic pregnancy: Everything you need to know

Cryptic pregnancy (also known as stealth or denied pregnancy) is an occurrence when a pregnant person doesn’t know they’re pregnant. It’s possible to remain unaware for some time in pregnancy or until the very labor.

How common is cryptic pregnancy? It’s a rather rare phenomenon. A person may be unaware of a pregnancy until around 20 weeks in 1 in 475 pregnancies, or until labor in 1 in nearly 2,500 pregnancies. This might be caused by a number of factors, such as:

• Birth control
• Cycle irregularity
• Bleeding
• Negative test results
• A lack of symptoms
• A lack of weight gain and other physical changes
• Denial

One way or another, cryptic pregnancies are real. And though they can’t be 100% avoided, education and awareness can help reduce the likelihood of dealing with them.

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In many cases, women realize they’re pregnant around 14 DPO. This day usually coincides with the first day of the expected period, and if it doesn't begin, it can be a good sign to take a pregnancy test and learn that you will have a baby. Those who are actively trying to conceive may have a “gut feeling” about being pregnant even before they miss their period. And early pregnancy signs, such as fatigue, frequent urination, nausea, and others, can provide additional reassurance in successful conception.

But what if you don’t feel any different for many weeks, and even have irregular period-like bleeding, so nothing hints at pregnancy, and then suddenly learn that you are pregnant? That’s what a cryptic pregnancy is.

Although it sounds odd and can be incredibly frustrating, cryptic pregnancy is a real phenomenon. It was first discovered back in the early 17th century. Yet, it still causes confusion and plenty of questions today.

What is a cryptic pregnancy? Why does it happen? And how common is cryptic pregnancy? In this article, we’ll answer all these and other common questions about this phenomenon to help you understand it better.

What Is a Cryptic Pregnancy?

Cryptic pregnancy, also known as stealth or denied pregnancy, is a phenomenon in which a person is pregnant without acknowledging it. When it occurs, it’s possible to stay unaware of the ongoing pregnancy until very late into it. Sometimes, a person may not know they're pregnant until they give birth.

How Common Is Cryptic Pregnancy?

Cryptic pregnancy is real but rather rare. Studies show that 1 in 475 women may not realize they are pregnant until around 20 weeks. By this time, the baby should already be around 25.6 cm long, which is about the size of a banana. In regular pregnancies, 20 weeks is also the time when you will have your second (anatomy scan) ultrasound, which makes it hard to understand how a person may not know they’re pregnant so far along in pregnancy. But it’s possible.

Furthermore, it’s also possible to remain unaware of pregnancy until labor. This is even more rare and occurs in 1 in almost 2,500 pregnancies.

What Causes a Cryptic Pregnancy?

Although it’s fairly rare, there is still a little possibility of going through pregnancy without realizing it. And while we can’t name one single reason that might cause a cryptic pregnancy, there can be a number of complex factors contributing to it:

Birth Control

Taking birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy is one of the most common reasons for not knowing that you’re pregnant until later in gestation. It gives you a misleading feeling like you absolutely can’t get pregnant, which is why you simply don’t expect it to happen. However, it’s important to remember that birth control is never 100% foolproof. Experts say that, in reality, the pill is only 93% reliable. That is, there is still a 7% chance of getting pregnant without knowing it. Moreover, some types of birth control allow you to skip periods, which can make it harder to detect pregnancy early.

Cycle Irregularity

As you should know, a missed period is one of the earliest and most surefire signs of pregnancy. If your cycle is regular, it makes it quite easy to detect early pregnancy when you miss your period. However, if you are living with cycle irregularity, for example, due to stress or a condition like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), you might be used to skipping your period every once in a while. This can make you miss this sign and end up having a cryptic pregnancy.

Bleeding

Bleeding in early pregnancy can be very misleading, as it can be confused for menstruation. Yet, between 15% and 25% of all pregnant women experience it in the first 12 weeks. If that’s the case, you might think that you’re having your period and, in reality, be pregnant.

Negative Pregnancy Test

If you suspected that you were pregnant but ended up with a false-negative result, it can be another cause for a cryptic pregnancy. Although at-home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate, it’s possible to receive a false-negative for a number of reasons. For example, testing too early or after drinking plenty of fluid is among the common reasons. And, quite naturally, you can continue thinking that you’re not pregnant after a negative result, and only figure out you’re pregnant later.

No Symptoms

Many women realize they’re pregnant when they start noticing telltale symptoms, such as breast tenderness, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and others. And while having a full set of pregnancy signs is normal and common, it’s important to remember that every pregnancy is unique. It’s also normal to have absolutely no symptoms of pregnancy throughout all trimesters. Some women may not even feel baby movement due to the specific position of the placenta and baby. Needless to say, no symptoms and fetal movement can also make it hard to detect pregnancy.

No Significant Physical Changes

In pregnancy, it’s typical to experience certain physical changes, including weight gain, increased breast size, and a growing baby bump. However, it’s worth noting that every woman will carry pregnancy weight differently. Studies on pregnancy denial found little to no weight changes in women who were dealing with a cryptic pregnancy. Due to no (or very insignificant) weight gain, some women may not have a noticeable bump, which can also be a misleading signal.

Denial

Lastly, a cryptic pregnancy can be a result of an emotional denial of pregnancy. Stress, fear, and shame are among the most common things that can trigger a protective mechanism in the brain and make a woman deny her own pregnancy. Denial might also arise from past fertility challenges. If a woman has been told that she’s infertile or has had pregnancy loss in the past, it’s possible that she can’t believe she’s pregnant until she sees noticeable symptoms.

When Can Cryptic Pregnancy Be Detected?

A cryptic pregnancy is typically detected much later than a regular one. In many cases, it goes unnoticed until around 20 weeks, when more prominent pregnancy symptoms start showing. However, it’s also possible that it’s detected only at labor. This is very rare. But it can be possible if pregnancy symptoms were missed, misinterpreted, or denied.

Generally, there is no rule for when this kind of pregnancy can be detected, as it depends on a variety of individual factors. If you’re wondering how to detect a cryptic pregnancy, the answer is awareness. Educating yourself about your sexual health and cycle is one of the best ways to avoid cryptic pregnancy. However, there is no way to 100% prevent it. Most often, paying attention to symptoms (even mild ones) and seeing a doctor in case of any suspicions can help identify a pregnancy earlier through medical exams.

FAQ

How rare is a cryptic pregnancy?

According to studies, 1 in 475 pregnant women may not know they’re pregnant until around 20 weeks, and 1 in nearly 2,500 women may not know it until they actually go into labor. These numbers suggest a fairly rare nature of cryptic pregnancies. Yet, it doesn’t seem quite that rare if you compare these stats with other rare occurrences in pregnancy. For example, there is a chance to have triplets in about 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, which means that facing a cryptic pregnancy that’s detected only during labor is actually more than three times more likely than giving birth to triplets.

How to detect a cryptic pregnancy?

It might be possible to note subtle pregnancy symptoms, such as excessive fatigue, weight gain, or nausea. If these signs make you suspect a possible pregnancy, taking an at-home test might be your first step. However, it’s important to remember that cryptic pregnancy might run with fluctuating hormone levels (which can explain very mild symptoms and occasional bleeding), especially during early weeks. That is, an at-home test can give you a false negative. Hence, the only definitive way to detect this kind of pregnancy is to see your healthcare provider and perform a blood test and an ultrasound.

Is there a way to prevent a cryptic pregnancy?

Unfortunately, there is no 100% way to prevent a cryptic pregnancy because it’s often associated with complex contributing factors that can be incredibly misleading. Yet, you can significantly reduce its likelihood through self-education and awareness. If you’re aware of your sexual health and keep a close eye on all changes happening in your body, you might be able to notice even mild differences from your regular state and take the right steps afterward, such as taking a home test and seeing your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Cryptic pregnancies have been known and studied for decades. Yet, this topic still causes a lot of confusion and questions.

So, how common is cryptic pregnancy? As you now know, it’s a fairly rare phenomenon affecting 1 in 475 (undiscovered until 20 weeks) or 1 in nearly 2,500 (undiscovered until labor) pregnancies. However, it’s not as uncommon as many believe. This kind of pregnancy can be caused by a variety of complex factors. And the best way to minimize its likelihood is to educate yourself and keep a close eye on your sexual health.

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