A Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Dr. Abosede Lewu, has affirmed that cryptic pregnancy is a real medical condition, but one that is often misunderstood and exploited by fraudsters.
Dr. Lewu, who is also the Chief Medical Director of ORB Women’s Clinic, Lagos, told reporters on Thursday that a cryptic pregnancy is a genuine pregnancy in which a woman remains unaware of her condition until about five months into the pregnancy—or in some cases, only discovers it when she goes into labor.
“Cryptic pregnancy is a real pregnancy. The major difference between it and other pregnancies is awareness. The woman is pregnant but does not know,” Lewu explained.
She noted that cryptic pregnancy is more common in women with irregular menstrual cycles or those who have gone for long periods without menstruation. Women approaching menopause may also be at risk, as irregular cycles—occurring once every three or six months—can mask pregnancy symptoms.
ALSO READ: Oyo gov wife visits first babies of 2026
“Some women may assume the symptoms they experience are just part of the changes associated with nearing menopause,” she added.
Breastfeeding women were also identified as being at risk, since menstruation often does not resume until breastfeeding is reduced or stopped. “As a result, such women can actually be pregnant without knowing it, because they believe their period is yet to return,” Lewu said.
The gynaecologist warned that cryptic pregnancy carries inherent risks, as it is usually unplanned and the woman is not medically or emotionally prepared for it.
She also cautioned that some unscrupulous individuals exploit the concept of cryptic pregnancy to defraud desperate women trying to conceive. “Some scammers claim to detect a pregnancy and then administer medications to stop a woman’s period. When these women later go to diagnostic centres for scans, there is usually no evidence of pregnancy. In genuine cryptic pregnancy, however, the pregnancy exists,” Lewu said.
She advised women to be cautious, stressing that if only one person claims to see a pregnancy and no independent medical test confirms it, it is likely a scam.
“Working with someone who claims to help you get pregnant but no one else can confirm the pregnancy is a red flag,” she warned. Lewu further cautioned that such scams often involve unregulated hormones, which can pose severe, life-threatening health risks immediately or later in life.
Highlighting the nature of genuine cryptic pregnancy, she said, “There is no secrecy in a real cryptic pregnancy. Nobody induces it, and women should not be forced into secrecy.”
Dr. Lewu urged women and families facing fertility challenges to seek help only from qualified gynaecologists. “The journey to having children varies from woman to woman and family to family. It is important to pursue safe, medically sound options rather than fall into the hands of unqualified individuals,” she said.
