Why Many Women Fear Pregnancy

When you saw the plus sign on your pregnancy tests, did you cry tears of joy or tears of fear? If it was the latter, you're not alone. Recent research has found that 13 percent of women suffer from tokophobia — a fear of pregnancy and child birth. While many moms have their share of worries, those with tokophobia allow their concerns to dictate when, or if, they will start their own family. For some the fear stems from the unknown pain and medical procedures that come with pregnancy. Others, however, develop the fear after going through a traumatic birth experience. In addition to affecting a woman's pregnancy mindset, tokophobia can take a toll on her postpregnancy state. An additional study found that women with topkophobia are more likely to develop postpartum depression, even if they have no history of depression.

To learn how to overcome a fear of pregnancy, read the full story on Huffington Post.