Scientists discover cause of severe morning sickness in pregnancy
Gabrielle M. Etzel
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Researchers may have an insight into better treatments for severe cases of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, according to research published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
The study confirms prior research that the amount of the hormone GDF15 in a pregnant woman’s bloodstream, as well as her exposure to the hormone prior to pregnancy, drive the severity of nausea during the first trimester.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, between 70% and 80% of women report experiencing morning sickness during pregnancy, with symptoms peaking often between eight and 10 weeks of pregnancy.
A more dangerous condition, hyperemesis gravidarum, is an extreme form of morning sickness characterized by persistent nausea and vomiting, potentially leading to weight loss and dehydration. Hyperemesis also is associated with several other health risks for mother and baby, including pre-term birth, preeclampsia, and blood clots.
The Cleveland Clinic reports that only 3% of pregnant patients are diagnosed with hyperemesis, but the disorder is often underdiagnosed.
Researchers found that women experiencing hyperemesis during pregnancy had significantly higher levels of GDF15 than those who had no symptoms.
GDF15 is released by many bodily tissues in response to stress, triggering a response from the area of the brain responsible for nausea. Researchers suggest that, during pregnancy, the placenta releases higher levels of the hormone into the maternal bloodstream.
The findings indicate that a hormone-blocking supplement may be a future treatment for hyperemesis or less extreme but still disruptive forms of morning sickness.
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Researchers in the field of women’s health said that Wednesday’s study will benefit maternal healthcare.
“There is kind of an assumption made by many people that women should just be able to cope with this,” Rachel Freathy, a geneticist at the University of Exeter not involved in the study, told the New York Times. Finding a biological explanation for morning sickness will support “[the] belief that this is a real thing rather than something in somebody’s head.”