In ?Skin Deep,? an episode of the hugely popular and award-winning television show House, MD, a man called George was admitted to the emergency room. George explains that he's been having the same symptoms that his pregnant wife does: food cravings, morning sickness, lactating breasts, and when his wife goes into labor, George also feels the labor pains. House makes the diagnosis that George, having elevated amounts of estrogen in his system, is experiencing sympathy pains. He is, therefore, physically going through the pangs of pregnancy with his wife.

Sympathy pains are actually more common than most people believe. In the 2006 Pregnancy Book circulated by UK's Department of Health, it was said that men with pregnant partners may experience the symptoms of morning sickness. These symptoms can include food cravings, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, back pain, and in extreme cases lactation and labor pains. It has been linked to both hormonal imbalance and psychological issues such as stress and anxiety on the impending birth.

Hormones are chemicals produced by the body to carry messages from one cell to another. There are two types of hormones called peptides and steroids. In general, steroids are sex hormones related to sexual maturation and fertility, and these are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. While both men and women carry these three steroidal hormones, progesterone has been referred to as the hormone of pregnancy, because it has many roles relating to the development of the fetus. Estrogen has higher concentrations in females and is an essential part of their reproductive process, and this is matched by the hormone testosterone in men. Hormonal imbalance in either men or women have their accompanying symptoms, but during pregnancy these can be exaggerated. This is why women experience morning sickness. Because their bodies are in a natural state of turmoil because of the pregnancy, their hormone levels become erratic. In men, a higher concentration of estrogen can mean that they exhibit somewhat feminine characteristics, making them more moody and sensitive. It is this sensitivity that makes men susceptible to sympathy pains, because they ?feel? with their partners.

Feelings play a big part in sympathy pains. Because people have been conditioned to believe that the period when the woman is pregnant should be one of the happiest times in a couple's life, it is often hard for partners to admit to each other that they are feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of becoming parents. Some expectant parents feel that they are not ready to start a family. After all, with the birth of the child comes greater responsibilities. Many feel stress and anxiety when thinking of the hospital bills, other expenses related to having a baby, childcare and worries about the future. It is this fear of the unknown that makes many couples feel so much anxiety that you can almost cut it with a knife. Parenting is not something that you can learn in school, but rather a practiced art. If one or both couples have issues with their own parents, then this also contributes to their fear and anxiety. Some can become obsessed with not repeating the sins of the past, or not emulating their parents' example. Couples can put undue pressure on themselves to be the best parent possible. Another issue plaguing expectant parents is their sexual relationship, which can get strained and awkward. These and other psychological factors can affect the expectant couple and put a blight on their joy at the coming of their child.

The most important thing during this period when the female partner is expecting a child is to strengthen the communication between the couple. Although it can be a nuisance, sympathy pains are not a problem in itself, and its symptoms can be treated when they present themselves.