Severe morning sickness symptoms during pregnancy are likely linked to certain hormones, according to a new study.
The scientific magazine “Nature” announced the results of the survey Researchers on Wednesday discovered that nausea and vomiting, common symptoms of early pregnancy, are primarily caused by the hormone GDF15, which is produced in the fetal bone marrow.
“GDF15, a hormone that acts on the brainstem, is thought to be involved in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), including the most severe form of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), but a complete mechanistic understanding is lacking. ” says the study.
“Despite the fact that nausea and vomiting are symptoms of most human pregnancies and are commonly disabling and, in severe cases, potentially life-threatening, their pathogenesis and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. The researchers added:
A mother’s sensitivity to hormones is determined by past exposure, the experts explained. The authors said the discovery could help find treatments for this condition.
“We know that when women are exposed to higher levels of the GDF15 hormone during pregnancy, they get sick,” said Marlena Fezizo, one of the study’s lead authors.
in news release, Fejzo explained that lowering hormone levels may be one way to combat morning sickness. Another option, experts say, could be to expose pregnant women to GDF15 before they become pregnant to “prepare” them for elevated levels.
“This study provides strong evidence that one or both of these methods are effective in preventing or treating HG,” added Fezo, a clinical assistant professor in the Center for Genetic Epidemiology at the Keck School of Medicine.
Experts measured hormones in the pregnant women’s blood and monitored genetic risk factors. Women who experienced hyperemesis, a debilitating condition that makes it difficult to eat, drink, and perform daily activities, had significantly higher levels of the hormone GDF15 during pregnancy than women without symptoms.
“Now that we understand the main causes of HG, I hope we are one step closer to developing effective treatments to prevent other mothers from experiencing what I and many other women have experienced. ,” Fezzo said.
This milestone comes as access to maternal health care declines as maternal mortality rates rise during pregnancy.data from March of Dimes non-profit organization A study published earlier this year found that in 2022, more than 6.9 million people lived in areas with poor access to obstetric care.
The organization also noted that only 45.7% of all U.S. counties have access to complete obstetric care.
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