Delayed detection of pregnancy in patients with anorexia nervosa: two case reports

Pregnancy in patients with anorexia nervosa is rarely suspected. Amenorrhea is invariably present, often accompanied by sensations such as a bloated abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The detection of conception in anorectic patients is often delayed. Two extreme cases of belated recognition of pregnancy (at Weeks 25 and 26) in anorectic patients are described: Both had been amenorrheic prior to conception, had no notion of pregnancy, and in both, discovery was incidental. Termination of pregnancy, requested by one of the patients, was unfeasible at this gestational age. Pregnancy in patients with eating disorders is elusive, prone to complications, and should be considered when symptoms are suggestive.