Agoraphobia in Pregnancy

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Sarah Marshall - Medical Officer

Updated: Aug 18, 2021

Next review: Aug 18, 2022

As agoraphobia sufferers tend to be very self conscious, the changes that take place during pregnancy can be tough to deal with and make social situations virtually impossible.

Our online doctors are here to provide all the support you need. They can suggest treatment options to look after your mental health and ensure the safety of your developing baby from the first week of your pregnancy to the last.

If you’ve previously had anxiety issues, pregnancy can trigger your symptoms. One of the biggest worries many agoraphobic people have is that they’ll do something in public that’ll cause people to stare or laugh at them.

Common pregnancy issues such as nausea (morning sickness) and stress incontinence are just some of the problems that might cause anxiety and make it difficult to even leave your house.

Our doctors may suggest that you try a talking therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which teaches you how to gain control of your concerns whenever they occur. If you’d like to learn more about the possible treatment options for agoraphobia, click here.

There has been considerable research into whether anxiety disorders pose a risk to your baby during pregnancy. There’s nothing sufficient to prove that agoraphobia has any effect.

However, if you have any concerns about your pregnancy, you can chat to one of our friendly online doctors and get the reassurance you need.

If you’re trying for a baby or you’ve discovered you’re pregnant, and you’ve been taking medication to manage your agoraphobia, it’s best to see one of our doctors about your ongoing treatment.

It may be that the medicine you’re taking poses a risk to your baby. If this is the case, our doctors will recommend an alternative treatment. They can prescribe a different medication, or recommend a talking therapy to help you control your anxiety attacks while you’re pregnant.

One thing you must never do is stop taking your agoraphobia medication without consulting a doctor. Stopping any mental health medication suddenly can put your health at risk, as symptoms may come back even more aggressively than before.

Our doctors can help you stop taking your medication at a safe pace, before replacing it with a different treatment.

Agoraphobia in Pregnancy

Dr Sarah Marshall - Medical Officer

How does pregnancy affect agoraphobia?

Dealing with agoraphobia during pregnancy

Can agoraphobia during pregnancy harm your baby?

Is it safe to continue taking medication during your pregnancy?

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