WEIRD SCIENCE

The men who get morning sickness

Men can suffer symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness, back pain and even swollen stomachs, research suggests. All were reported in a UK study of 282 fathers-to-be published in 2007.

The researchers, from St George’s, University of London, described the phenomenon as Couvade syndrome, from the French word ‘couver’ which means ‘to hatch’. The condition is not medically recognised, and it is not clear what causes it, but experts believe the involuntary symptoms could be linked to anxiety over a partner’s pregnancy.