Tocophobia = fear of pregnancy

So, I think I actually developed tocophobia, and the fear of pregnant women (there's no scientific name there). Being FTM, I'm disgusted by the thought of having a child myself (or even thinking that my body is preparing for that, or that I have a uterus, etc.).

However, now I am completely repulsed by pregnancy in general. Even if it's completely unrelated to me. It used to be that I was uncomfortable when I saw women who were so pregnant that their belly button was sticking out. But now, if I even think about someone being pregnant, I start feeling kinda sick and really uncomfortable.

I think it was caused by (oddly enough) watching The Nanny too much. They started showing the re-runs awhile ago, and my sister quickly fell in love with it, so I watched it all the time. Not really a bad show, but after they get married, she thinks she's pregnant, and when she finds out she's not, she becomes obsessed with getting pregnant. I had to watch these episodes over and over again, and very shortly I noticed that I couldn't stand watching them anymore. Then I realized I couldn't stand watching anything where pregnancy was involved.

And it didn't really go away. So now, I think I've developed tocophobia. Does that make sense to you guys?

So now my step-mom wants me to go to a baby shower with her (a friend of the family), and although she's not forcing me to go, she's pressuring me. I don't want to go, but I want to support them. I don't think I can handle being around the woman, as I'm sure she's pretty far along now.

What should I do?  Is there anything I can do to soothe this phobia a little bit? Anyone had this feeling before?

Thanks in advance.

Pregnancy has always grossed me out a little. I think its the whole parasitic thing. I would't say I'm phobic though. Keep telling yourself she's just fat, that's the only thing I can think of.

I read this as tacophobia and thought it was going to be about fearing vaginas.

What the heck is a baby shower?
I've always found pregnancy to be gross, so no, I don't know how to soothe it.

I've always had a huge issue with pregnancy...other people being pregnant is bad enough, but me being pregnant is without a doubt the worst concept imaginable to me

Just pretend she is fat?? Hahah 

Men don't typically go to baby showers, you could just say it would make you really dysphoric...or just flat out say no

Quote from: Wraith on February 25, 2011, 03:07:14 AM
What the heck is a baby shower?

A baby shower is a party that a pregnant couple throws when they're near the point of giving birth. Their friends come over and they celebrate the birth and give gifts for the soon-to-be-born baby, like baby clothes and toys.

Quote from: FebruaryFalls on February 25, 2011, 03:28:11 PM
Men don't typically go to baby showers, you could just say it would make you really dysphoric...or just flat out say no

That is true, but my step-mom wants me to go, so she's been telling me that it's ok for guys to go too, and we should be supportive, etc. I think that guys can go to baby showers, although it's not really common, but I don't really want to go because I'd be really dysphoric (I don't think they even know what that means), and honestly because I have very little time to spare and I don't want to spend it stuck with a bunch of people discussing babies and pregnancy. 

Quote from: Sharky on February 25, 2011, 02:05:45 AM
I read this as tacophobia and thought it was going to be about fearing vaginas.

This. So much this. I misread tocophobia as tacophobia, and I kind of thought, "Okay...fear of vaginas."

Quote from: Devyn on February 25, 2011, 06:06:11 PM
This. So much this. I misread tocophobia as tacophobia, and I kind of thought, "Okay...fear of vaginas."

Glad to know I wasn't the only one.

If I was pregnant I would rip out my uterus with my bare hands.

That is all.

Quote from: Devyn on February 25, 2011, 06:06:11 PM
This. So much this. I misread tocophobia as tacophobia, and I kind of thought, "Okay...fear of vaginas."

I looked up that word and it said "fear of speed".  I think I missed the joke... now I feel like a retard. Anyway, when you wrote that, I thought you were going to say "fear of tacos"  >.>

Quote from: LanceM on February 25, 2011, 06:48:11 PM
If I was pregnant I would rip out my uterus with my bare hands.

That is all.

Me too. Or I'd carve it out with a hunting knife. Whichever's faster.

Quote from: LanceM on February 25, 2011, 06:48:11 PM
If I was pregnant I would rip out my uterus with my bare hands.

That is all.

I said something similar to my friends before, before realizing I was FTM.

Quote from: Dante on February 25, 2011, 08:53:29 PM
I looked up that word and it said "fear of speed".  I think I missed the joke... now I feel like a retard. Anyway, when you wrote that, I thought you were going to say "fear of tacos"  >.>

It's not really a joke, taco is just slang for vagina.

Quote from: Sharky on February 25, 2011, 10:37:36 PM
It's not really a joke, taco is just slang for vagina.

Oh, ok then. I haven't heard that one. (Which is surprising considering my group of friends always talks about sex, much to my discomfort)

Quote from: Dante on February 25, 2011, 06:04:53 PM
A baby shower is a party that a pregnant couple throws when they're near the point of giving birth. Their friends come over and they celebrate the birth and give gifts for the soon-to-be-born baby, like baby clothes and toys.

That is true, but my step-mom wants me to go, so she's been telling me that it's ok for guys to go too, and we should be supportive, etc. I think that guys can go to baby showers, although it's not really common, but I don't really want to go because I'd be really dysphoric (I don't think they even know what that means), and honestly because I have very little time to spare and I don't want to spend it stuck with a bunch of people discussing babies and pregnancy. 

Maybe if you sat her down and explained how it would make you feel to be there she'd understand. Explain it as a physical and mental pain that could deeply affect you. Just make sure to let her know you're not trying to be selfish or whiny, but that you're genuinely concerned for your own mental health and well-being and you fear what attending this shower could do for you.

If she doesn't accept that, don't go on the principal of her being an insensitive jerk

To me, the idea of being pregnant is as appealing as the idea of having a chestburster inside. My boyfriend says he wants to get sterilized, as he regards those organs and those functions vestigial. I feel the same about my own reproductory organs, they fill no real function and are essentially like an appendix.

Don't worry, I HATE the thought of being pregnant too.  I'd rather be dead than pregnant.  I don't even see why anybody wants to be pregnant.  It just brings out misery and bills and all kinds of horrible things.  If people want to have a child, they should adopt because those places are over-flowing as it is.  But pregnancies?  Ew.  I can only see downsides to them 

Just IMO up there.  But I don't think you should worry about it too much unless it starts interfering with your daily life (like, refusing to go outside because you might see a pregnant woman)

Pregnancy and all of the related issues have grossed me out since I found out about them. I can actually remember crying and vowing to be a virgin all my life when I found out the cause in my sex ed class.

Pregnancy in general doesn't freak me out. The thought of me being pregnant though freaks me out. I love kids though so I don't mind other people being pregnant.

i would say that I do have a very very strong fear of getting pregnant, i even have nightmares about it

now, im not afraid of pregnant women, but I do think that carrying a baby that is sucking your life is very gross and parasitic