Geneticist Marlena Fejzo is challenging misconceptions about severe sickness during pregnancy. She believes these myths can harm mothers and babies, often leading to undertreatment or mistreatment.
Fejzo’s research focuses on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of nausea and vomiting affecting about 1 to 2 percent of pregnant women, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Without proper care, HG can be life-threatening.
In December, Fejzo and her team at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine identified a hormone, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), as a key factor in HG. This discovery, published in Trends in Molecular Medicine, challenges three common myths about HG and morning sickness.
Myth 1 suggests that severe morning sickness is harmless, but Fejzo argues it can lead to serious health issues like postnatal depression and preterm births.
Myth 2 links morning sickness to hormones detected in pregnancy tests, but Fejzo’s research highlights GDF15 as a likely cause. Manipulating GDF15 levels could lead to better treatments.
Myth 3 assumes only humans experience morning sickness, but Fejzo points out that animals also show similar symptoms, suggesting an evolutionary advantage.
Despite obstacles like the thalidomide disaster and limited research funding, Fejzo remains dedicated to improving HG treatment. She recently opened an HG treatment center in New Jersey, aiming to change how this condition is managed.
Fejzo’s personal experience with HG drives her mission to help others avoid unnecessary suffering during pregnancy. She hopes her work will lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies affected by HG.
