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| {{otheruses4|pregnancy in male organisms|the sympathetic condition |
{{otheruses4|pregnancy in male organisms|the sympathetic condition|Couvade}} | ||
| '''Male pregnancy''' is the making of one or more ]s or ] by the ] of any ] inside their bodies. The majority of all ] in the ] are carried by ] organisms. In most ], the males produce the ] and rarely host the ]. | '''Male pregnancy''' is the making of one or more ]s or ] by the ] of any ] inside their bodies. The majority of all ] in the ] are carried by ] organisms. In most ], the males produce the ] and rarely host the ]. | ||
| ==Natural occurrence in animals== | |||
| The ] family of fish includes ]s, the ], and the ] and ]s. This family of fish have the unique characteristic where females lay their ] in a brood pouch on the male's chest, and the male then fertilizes and incubates the eggs. It is the only family in the animal kingdom to which the term "male pregnancy" has been applied.<ref name="biology>{{cite journal | The ] family of fish includes ]s, the ], and the ] and ]s. This family of fish have the unique characteristic where females lay their ] in a brood pouch on the male's chest, and the male then fertilizes and incubates the eggs. It is the only family in the animal kingdom to which the term "male pregnancy" has been applied.<ref name="biology>{{cite journal | ||
| | last = Jones | | last = Jones | ||
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| }}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
| ==Speculation on |
==Speculation on inducing pregnancy in men== | ||
| British physician ] speculates that it may be possible to surgically induce ] in men. In his book ''The IVF Revolution'', Winston speculates that an embryo could be implanted in a man's abdomen—with the placenta attached to an internal organ such as the bowel—and that the baby would later be delivered by Caesarean section. However, other experts expressed great concerns about the safety of such a procedure.<ref name="independent2">{{ | |||
| Theoretical possibilities include the use or not of a womb, and is not known to have ever been attempted.In ], doctors would have to obtain permission to carry out such treatments on a man, from the the ]. <ref> Articles on the feasibility of the endeavor</ref><ref> An editorial detailing the issue</ref> | |||
| cite web | url = "http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990222/ai_n14206683" | title=Babies borne by men `possible' | date = "February 22, 1999" | publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Pregnancy among transsexual and intersex people== | ||
| ===Use of a uterus=== | |||
| ⚫ | Some ] people with XY chromosomes develop entirely female bodies and, if the individual develops a uterus, ] is possible.<ref>Khadilkar, Vaman. , Pediatrician On Call web site</ref> This may also occur in animals. | ||
| ]s have been done in mice, rats, rabbits and pigs, with offspring only in rodents.<ref> uterine transplants in different animals</ref> | |||
| The first transplant in humans, was performed in ] in ]<ref name="independent2">, '']'', March 7, 2002</ref>. The transplant survived for 99 days and had to be removed eventually,but it managed to produced two menstrual periods.<ref name="transplant">, ''Transplant News'', March, 2002</ref>. | |||
| ⚫ | Some ] ]s who interrupt hormone treatments can become pregnant, while still identifying and living as male—this is possible for individuals who still have functioning ovaries.<ref></ref> One example is Matt Rice, a ] who is the former partner of writer ]. Rice bore a child by artificial insemination.<ref>, '']'', ], ].</ref> Although the individual is genetically and physiologically female, from an identity standpoint this may be considered a "male pregnancy". | ||
| Uterine transplants from female animals to males have been successfully performed.This advance makes it possible for a male receiving a womb and bearing a baby.<ref name="pravda">, uterine transplants to males and possible pregnancies</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Human male pregnancy in myth== | ||
| Related to this method,of "male pregnancy", an artificial womb could be used, but this is still far off.<ref name="artificial male pregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/popsci/futurebody/0a6d9371b1d75010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html | |||
| ⚫ | Various mythologies have featured male characters birthing, but such events typically either take place in an entirely different fashion than an ordinary female pregnancy, such as ] springing fully-formed from ]'s forehead, or ] being born from his thigh. Male mythological figures may also become pregnant when rendered female in some way, such as the ] ] turning into a ] to distract a ] and ending up giving birth to ]. | ||
| |title=artificial wombs in male pregnancies | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu gives birth to Lord Bramha, from his navel. A lotus emerges from his navel carrying Bramha within. More like a placenta and a womb, only outside. | ||
| ===No uterus=== | |||
| This idea has been floating around by various people for some time,including in a book of famous doctor ].<ref name="Babies borne by men `possible'(Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999)">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990222/ai_n14206683 | |||
| |title=Babies borne by men `possible' Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999 | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="artificial male pregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/popsci/futurebody/0a6d9371b1d75010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html | |||
| |title=artificial wombs in male pregnancies | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="pravda">, uterine transplants to males and possible pregnancies</ref> | |||
| ==Human male pregnancy in fiction== | |||
| Surgical intervention may make it possible for a male to sustain a pregnancy, through the induction of an ], but it would be dangerous and has never been attempted (abdominal ectopic pregnancies sometimes happens in females). Fertilization would be done ] by implantation into the ], and starting the process would require the male to take female ]—blurring the line between the sexes.<ref name="Babies borne by men `possible'(Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999)">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990222/ai_n14206683 | |||
| |title=Babies borne by men `possible' Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999 | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="artificial male pregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/popsci/futurebody/0a6d9371b1d75010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html | |||
| |title=artificial wombs in male pregnancies | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="pravda">, uterine transplants to males and possible pregnancies</ref> | |||
| However, there are serious misgivings about this process' safety,which has the same shortcomings as in females.<ref name="Babies borne by men `possible'(Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999)">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990222/ai_n14206683 | |||
| |title=Babies borne by men `possible' Independent, The (London), Feb 22, 1999 | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="artificial male pregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/popsci/futurebody/0a6d9371b1d75010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html | |||
| |title=artificial wombs in male pregnancies | |||
| |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="pravda">, uterine transplants to males and possible pregnancies</ref> | |||
| In women, ectopic pregnancies are generally removed as soon as possible. While a fetus of ectopic pregnancy is typically not viable (that naturally occur in females), very rarely, an abdominal pregnancy has been salvaged in females (typically women, a procedure too expensive for animals). The delivery requires a ] to remove the baby and the placenta. Removal of the placenta is the real danger because it forms such intimate connections with surrounding ]s that a massive ] is likely. Implantation may also involve other structures in the ], including the ] and it is possible that parts of other organs might have to be removed. Several physicians who are well-accustomed to advanced and dangerous forms of ectopic pregnancies have to be on-hand to handle any complication. The fetus is also in danger of complications because it is deprived of the protection of a uterus. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Human male pregnancy in |
||
| {{Trivia|date=November 2007}} | |||
| ] of ] in the ], advocating ] use, by featuring a ] male pregnancy.]] | |||
| Thematically, pregnancy can be related to issues of ] and gender. Some ] writers have picked up on these issues, in "cross-gender" themes—e.g., ]'s ''Bloodchild''. ]'s ''Ethan of Athos'' features an all-male society in which men use artificial wombs, but experience many of the psychological effects of pregnancy (anticipation, anxiety, etc.). In ]'s feminist utopian novel '']'', neither men nor women get pregnant, but men may take drugs to lactate and nurse the infant; the experience of "pregnancy" and the woman-only experience of nursing were sacrificed for gender equality.<ref>{{cite book | Thematically, pregnancy can be related to issues of ] and gender. Some ] writers have picked up on these issues, in "cross-gender" themes—e.g., ]'s ''Bloodchild''. ]'s ''Ethan of Athos'' features an all-male society in which men use artificial wombs, but experience many of the psychological effects of pregnancy (anticipation, anxiety, etc.). In ]'s feminist utopian novel '']'', neither men nor women get pregnant, but men may take drugs to lactate and nurse the infant; the experience of "pregnancy" and the woman-only experience of nursing were sacrificed for gender equality.<ref>{{cite book | ||
| | last = Piercy | | last = Piercy | ||
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| Male pregnancy is frequently seen in ]. Such stories are marked as the genre "mpreg", a portmanteau of the words "Male" and "Pregnancy" which was coined by two writers under the pseudonyms of Taleya Joinson and Texas Ranger, who created and maintained what is believed to be the first fan fiction archive dedicated to stories of this genre in 1998.<ref></ref> | Male pregnancy is frequently seen in ]. Such stories are marked as the genre "mpreg", a portmanteau of the words "Male" and "Pregnancy" which was coined by two writers under the pseudonyms of Taleya Joinson and Texas Ranger, who created and maintained what is believed to be the first fan fiction archive dedicated to stories of this genre in 1998.<ref></ref> | ||
| ==Human male pregnancy in popular culture== | |||
| ⚫ | Various mythologies have featured male characters birthing, but such events typically either take place in an entirely different fashion than an ordinary female pregnancy, such as ] springing fully-formed from ]'s forehead, or ] being born from his thigh. Male mythological figures may also become pregnant when rendered female in some way, such as the ] ] turning into a ] to distract a ] and ending up giving birth to ]. | ||
| ⚫ | Two comedy ]s centered around the theme of such an event in humans, '']'' (1978) and '']'' (1994), have been released. The latter's attempts are somewhat scientifically feasible; the former does not address the matter. There is also a hoax site featuring a fictitious male pregnancy.<ref name="malepregnancy">{{cite web|url=http://www.malepregnancy.com/ | ||
| ⚫ | In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu gives birth to Lord Bramha, from his navel. A lotus emerges from his navel carrying Bramha within. More like a placenta and a womb, only outside. | ||
| ⚫ | Two comedy ]s centered around the theme of such an event in humans, '']'' (1978) and '']'' (1994), have been released. The latter's attempts are somewhat scientifically feasible; the former does not address the matter. |
||
| |title= A hoax site featuring a fictitious male pregnancy | |title= A hoax site featuring a fictitious male pregnancy | ||
| |accessdate=}}</ref> |
|accessdate=}}</ref> | ||
| *If a "]" (a human simulation from the computer game ''The Sims 2'') stargazes with a telescope, he/she may be abducted by aliens. If it is an adult male, he will get pregnant with an alien baby. Likewise, the Sim will eventually give birth like female Sims do. | |||
| *In an episode of '']'', Leo becomes pregnant with Piper's baby for a short term. | |||
| * In ''Full House'' Jesse carries around a "sympathy path" to simulate being pregnant as a bet with his wife and an elderly man claims to have seen a pregnant man. | |||
| *In the first episode of '']'' Captain Jack mentions that he once got pregnant. | |||
| *In an episode of '']'', Lister becomes pregnant after visiting a parallel universe where male and female are reversed and he has sex with his counterpart. | |||
| *An episode of '']'' depicts a universe where men carry children to term because women lost the ability in a catastrophic disaster. | |||
| *In an episode of '']'', Kif becomes pregnant with ] DNA, but claims ] as his "]" and therefore the mother. | |||
| *'']''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> seventh season features a ] episode where a volcanic eruption releases spores causing male pregnancy and several characters fall victim; they ultimately give birth to nonhuman objects such as a model ] and a ]. | |||
| *In the movie ''Billy Madison'', Billy makes a wisecrack about Eric getting pregnant (referring him to being a potential soccer player). | |||
| *In the sitcom ''Step by Step'', Frank and J.T. make a bet with Carol and Dana that they can handle being pregnant better than women by stuffing really heavy objects in their shirts and walking around like that for a few days. They ultimately give up and lose. | |||
| *Sam Beckett occupies the body of a pregnant woman during an episode of '']'' and at the show's conclusion gives birth to the child. The ''Quantum Leap'' premise is such that along with Sam, and possibly his friend Al, the viewer is the only one capable of seeing actor Scott Bakula's physical form in place of the currently possessed body, prompting speculation as to what it must have looked like during the child's delivery. Nevertheless, the director of photography refrained from including footage of Sam's genital area. | |||
| *A ] site, "www.malepregnancy.com" monitoring a fictitious male pregnancy. Mr. Lee has been "expecting" since December of 1999.<ref name="malepregnancy"/><ref name="snopes">, ] debunks the hoax.</ref> | |||
| *In an episode of '']'', Pete Twist becomes pregnant after urinating on a tree inhabited by a female tree spirit. The subsequent child is also a tree spirit, eventually birthed through Pete's navel, and takes up residence in a once-sickly tree next to its mother's. | |||
| * In '']'', they watch a film in which the female character gives birth. This leads to Beavis believing he is pregnant too but it turns out that he was merely having muscle spasms. | |||
| * In an episode of "]", Merton becomes impregnated by a female space alien. | |||
| * In the halo-based series "]", Tucker becomes ill, and Church calls Doc, whom O'Malley still controls, for help. After Doc diagnoses Tucker with male pregnancy, Andy reveals that the Alien had impregnated Tucker through parasites, and the latter gives birth off-screen. | |||
| * In an episode of '']'', we discover Juliet got to make a male mouse to get pregnant, but the pregnancy wasn't viable. | |||
| ==Related== | |||
| ===Fetus in fetu=== | |||
| Males with ]s are not pregnant, but there are some similarities. For example, the parasitic fetus sometimes attaches to the host with an ] and grows in the host's abdomen. In one rare case, an Indian man named ] carried his twin brother until he was 36. | |||
| ===Pregnancy in intersex situations=== | |||
| ⚫ | Some ] people with XY chromosomes develop entirely female bodies and, if the individual develops a uterus, ] is possible.<ref>Khadilkar, Vaman. , Pediatrician On Call web site</ref> This |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| Females that identify as males, can naturally get pregnant,as any other normal female.Although the individual is genetically and physiologically female, from an identity standpoint, this could be considered a "male pregnancy".<ref>As a reminder,transsexualism is not about the surgical intervention,but about what the individual thinks about him/her self,(animals included)</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Some ] |
||
| "], ''Village Voice''</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 23:17, 30 November 2007
This article is about pregnancy in male organisms. For the sympathetic condition, see Couvade.Male pregnancy is the making of one or more embryos or fetuses by the male of any species inside their bodies. The majority of all pregnancies in the animal kingdom are carried by female organisms. In most heterogamous species, the males produce the spermatazoa and rarely host the zygote.
The Syngnathidae family of fish includes seahorses, the pipefish, and the weedy and leafy sea dragons. This family of fish have the unique characteristic where females lay their eggs in a brood pouch on the male's chest, and the male then fertilizes and incubates the eggs. It is the only family in the animal kingdom to which the term "male pregnancy" has been applied.
Speculation on inducing pregnancy in men
British physician Robert Winston speculates that it may be possible to surgically induce abdominal ectopic pregnancy in men. In his book The IVF Revolution, Winston speculates that an embryo could be implanted in a man's abdomen—with the placenta attached to an internal organ such as the bowel—and that the baby would later be delivered by Caesarean section. However, other experts expressed great concerns about the safety of such a procedure.
Pregnancy among transsexual and intersex people
Some intersex people with XY chromosomes develop entirely female bodies and, if the individual develops a uterus, in vitro fertilization is possible. This may also occur in animals.
Some female-to-male transsexuals who interrupt hormone treatments can become pregnant, while still identifying and living as male—this is possible for individuals who still have functioning ovaries. One example is Matt Rice, a transman who is the former partner of writer Patrick Califia. Rice bore a child by artificial insemination. Although the individual is genetically and physiologically female, from an identity standpoint this may be considered a "male pregnancy".
Human male pregnancy in myth
Various mythologies have featured male characters birthing, but such events typically either take place in an entirely different fashion than an ordinary female pregnancy, such as Athena springing fully-formed from Zeus's forehead, or Dionysius being born from his thigh. Male mythological figures may also become pregnant when rendered female in some way, such as the shapeshifter Loki turning into a mare to distract a stallion and ending up giving birth to Sleipnir.
In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu gives birth to Lord Bramha, from his navel. A lotus emerges from his navel carrying Bramha within. More like a placenta and a womb, only outside.
Human male pregnancy in fiction
Thematically, pregnancy can be related to issues of parasitism and gender. Some science fiction writers have picked up on these issues, in "cross-gender" themes—e.g., Octavia Butler's Bloodchild. Lois McMaster Bujold's Ethan of Athos features an all-male society in which men use artificial wombs, but experience many of the psychological effects of pregnancy (anticipation, anxiety, etc.). In Marge Piercy's feminist utopian novel Woman on the Edge of Time, neither men nor women get pregnant, but men may take drugs to lactate and nurse the infant; the experience of "pregnancy" and the woman-only experience of nursing were sacrificed for gender equality. In the Internet comedy series Red vs. Blue, the character of Tucker is impregnated by a parasitic embryo from an alien creature. Roger Corman's B-film Night of the Blood Beast (1958) featured a male scientist being impregnated by an alien, and in the ebook Father of Dragons the male protagonist falls pregnant to a female dragon. Sheri Tepper uses male pregnancy as a form of political commentary in The Fresco when intergalactic peace officers take politicians at their literal word that all life is sacred despite any personal drawbacks.
Male pregnancy is frequently seen in fan fiction. Such stories are marked as the genre "mpreg", a portmanteau of the words "Male" and "Pregnancy" which was coined by two writers under the pseudonyms of Taleya Joinson and Texas Ranger, who created and maintained what is believed to be the first fan fiction archive dedicated to stories of this genre in 1998.
Human male pregnancy in popular culture
Two comedy films centered around the theme of such an event in humans, Rabbit Test (1978) and Junior (1994), have been released. The latter's attempts are somewhat scientifically feasible; the former does not address the matter. There is also a hoax site featuring a fictitious male pregnancy.
References
- Jones, Adam G. (2003-10-14). "Male Pregnancy" (HTML). Current Biology. 13 (20): R791.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - . The Independent. "February 22, 1999".
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - Khadilkar, Vaman. "Intersex Disorders", Pediatrician On Call web site
- Faster than Life
- Two Dads With a Difference—Neither of Us Was Born Male, Village Voice, June 21, 2000.
- Piercy, Marge (1985-11-12). Woman on the Edge of Time. Fawcett. ISBN 0-449-21082-0.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - http://samhainpublishing.com/books/father-of-dragons
- "A hoax site featuring a fictitious male pregnancy".