Hyperemesis Gravidarum research call

By Hollie Ewers on 17 September 2018 Survey Research Morning Sickness

International charities and researchers are collaborating on a global scale to improve Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) research.

They are calling for women and healthcare professionals to get involved and tell them what matters when it comes to HG.
 
The group is conducting an international survey for anyone affected by or involved in the treatment of HG. The aim is to underpin the foundations of HG research and inform researchers what questions need answering. 

For example, does one medication work better than the other and what dose should be used? What are the effects of malnutrition and dehydration on the baby and what are the long-term consequences for the mother? Even adult offspring may have questions about what effects they have from exposure to malnutrition in the womb.

The project is a James Lind Alliance collaboration with the UK charity Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS), as well as international charities in the USA, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway and with experts and patients who have formed the International Collaboration for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG).

Lead researcher for the review and PSS chairperson Caitlin Dean said: ‘HG is a very serious medical condition which costs lives and causes multiple long-term consequences yet has been under-researched for decades. 

‘Currently we have no solid evidence base for treating or caring for women with HG, we don’t know what the mental health impacts are or even when we should treat the condition or what with. 

‘We need medical research to answer these questions but currently a lot of research is seeking answers to questions which women and doctors don’t necessarily see as relevant.

‘This is an amazing opportunity for the people who matter to shape the future of HG research by telling us what matters to them!’

Researcher from the University Medical Centers Amsterdam Dr Rebecca Painter said that there are so many unanswered questions about HG and treatment varies from country to country. 

She added: ‘This project will bring together questions from across the globe which we can then prioritise and address systematically to improve the care and treatment for women and their babies affected by this serious condition.’
 
To take part and submit questions visit hgresearch.org/ichgpspsurvey/