Scientists Finally Pinpoint Cause of Severe Morning Sickness

Scientists have discovered the cause of nausea and vomiting associated with the first trimester of pregnancy – and pinpointed a specific hormone as the culprit in the most severe cases.

The study, published in the journal Nature, discovered the hormone GDF15, which the University of Cambridge explains is produced by the placenta, but also by other tissues when a woman is not pregnant. The hormone has previously been linked to causing nausea and vomiting (vomiting), according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

Although they’re called “morning sickness,” these bouts of sickness can happen at any time—and can sometimes develop into hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that can result in weight loss, dehydration and, according to the Mayo Clinic, hospitalization.

This severe form of morning sickness can affect up to 3% of pregnant women, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which adds that the condition causes the pregnancy to be classified as “high risk.”

The cause of morning sickness – and its most severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum – has been discovered.

Getty

But because morning sickness is so common, more serious cases are often dismissed, said Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a geneticist at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and co-author of the new study. The New York Times.

“I’ve been working on this for 20 years, and yet there are still reports of women dying from this and women being abused,” Dr. Fejzo told the outlet.

And as she said The New York Timesshe decided to study the cause of hyperemesis gravidarum after her own struggle with the disease, which was so severe that it caused a miscarriage.

Pregnant Amber Rose Says She Has Hyperemesis — But It’s ‘Not Fun’ The Condition Is ‘Totally Worth It’

“We confirmed that higher levels of GDF15 in maternal blood are associated with vomiting in pregnancy and HG,” the study said, adding that patients suffering from it may one day be able to take drugs that block the effects of the hormone.

Kate Middleton is known to have struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum during all three pregnancies, causing her to cancel planned appearances and at one point be hospitalized. Comedian Amy Schumer was also hospitalized for the condition during the second trimester, when morning sickness traditionally subsides.

Kate Middleton struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum during all three pregnancies.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

However, despite the recent rise in awareness of the condition, some say hyperemesis gravidarum – and morning sickness in general – is dismissed as something women should accept as part of pregnancy.

Kate’s morning sickness is ‘acute’

“A lot of people assume that women should just be able to deal with it,” said Dr Rachel Freathy, a geneticist at the University of Exeter. The New York Times.

The discovery of the role of hormones in morning sickness, she told the newspaper, will help people understand that “this is a real thing, not something in someone’s head.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education