Hyperemesis gravidarum remains “rather poorly understood” and lacks “codified care”, according to the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).
The College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians presented its recommendations on Friday for better management of the most severe forms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, a condition that can sometimes lead to serious complications.
This severe form of nausea and vomiting, called hyperemesis gravidarum, is “well identified” but remains “rather poorly known and the management is still not codified”, underlined Cyril Huissoud, gynecologist-obstetrician and secretary general of the National College French gynecologists and obstetricians (CNGOF).
This disease still suffers “from a form of contempt, ignorance and certain a priori concerning the psychological profile of patients”, he added during a press conference.
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, suffered from this pathology during her pregnancies and had to be hospitalized.
Educate caregivers about screening
The recommendations of the CNGOF provide in particular for more standardized care and better awareness of caregivers about screening, which should in particular make it possible to better understand this pathology, better identify women at risk and better support patients.
“If drug treatments have a certain effectiveness, this is sometimes limited and it is necessary to be able to offer global support to limit complications and improve support for these women in great difficulty”, underlines the College.
This question will be the subject of specific workshops for doctors caring for these patients on the occasion of Pari(s) Santé Femme, the annual congress of the profession which will be held from January 25 to 27 in Lille.
disabling symptoms
Nausea and vomiting are one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy and affect 50 to 90% of women. Most often, the symptoms are not very severe, without altering the quality of life and disappear at the end of the first trimester.
But for a little more than a third of women, the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy are disabling, altering their daily life and their professional activity. In approximately 2% of pregnant women, vomiting is uncontrollable and represents the leading cause of hospitalization in the first trimester of pregnancy.
A source of psychological suffering, this pathology can lead to dehydration and weight loss. The psychological and somatic impact is often significant for affected women and can cause severe maternal or fetal complications. In the most serious cases, this disease can even cause a delay in the development of the fetus, or even death in utero.
