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Study shows men suffer pregnancy symptoms

Study finds dads suffer pregnancy symptoms too. Photo by Getty.
Study finds dads suffer pregnancy symptoms too. Photo by Getty.

Scientists from the University of Michigan discovered that men’s hormones fluctuate in the weeks leading up to becoming a dad for the first time. And they believe it’s the body’s way of preparing new dads for bonding with their baby.

Hormone spikes in pregnant women have long been researched but this study was the first to look at men’s hormones in the months before childbirth.

The study involved measuring the hormone levels of 29 couples at four different stages of pregnancy.

As expected, levels of testosterone, cortisol, progesterone and oestradiol rose significantly in all of the women, while testosterone and oestradiol fell in the men.

“Other studies have shown that men’s hormones change once they become fathers,” said lead researcher Robin Edelstein. “But our findings suggest that these changes may begin even earlier, during the transition to fatherhood.”

He believes these hormone dips are due to the psychological changes that men experience as they prepare to become fathers, as well as changes in romantic relationships or even the physical changes that men experience during their partner’s pregnancy.

A drop in testosterone is not only believed to make men more caring, but is also said to be nature’s way of keeping men faithful to their partner. While a drop in oestradiol is believed to help prepare new dads for their increased responsibilities.