Tocophobia: a nosological quagmire

Fear of childbirth exists on a continuum of severity, and the most severe form is commonly referred to as tocophobia. Although a rare entity, tocophobia is a common reason for requesting an elective cesarean section. It is generally considered a specific phobia but is not recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a diagnostic entity. To improve the assessment and treatment of tocophobia, research is warranted to clarify its relationship with commonly occurring psychiatric disorders in pregnancy.