Rome, November 13 (Adnkronos Salute) – Not a ‘sweet wait’. About 2 out of 3 women suffer from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). Symptoms can last up to 5 months, impacting physical and emotional well-being, as well as increasing the risk of hospitalization, anxiety, and depression even in the postpartum period. Shedding light on this disorder, which is too often underestimated and treated too late, is the multicenter clinical study Purity-Extended promoted by the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Sigo) with the unconditional contribution of Italfarmaco, which provides a complete picture of the incidence and evolution of NVP in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, analyzing a large sample of about 900 women from all over the country.
“Research shows that about 70% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting, without significant differences between primiparous and multiparous women. However, among women who have suffered from this disorder in previous pregnancies, NVP tends to recur more frequently – explains Nicola Colacurci, former president of Sigo and former professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’ – The novelty of this study is that, for the first time, we have monitored the evolution of symptoms throughout pregnancy, it was found that in 40% of cases, the disorder persists after the fifth month, with a higher incidence in women who initiate effective treatment late.”
From the Purity-Extract results, it appears that the timing of women accessing their first obstetric examination does not change with the presence of NVP – the experts reported in a note – This suggests that many women do not feel the need for specialist consultation early on, even when symptoms of nausea and vomiting begin to appear. In addition, after the first specialist visit, only 50% of women with serious symptoms received a prescription for pharmacological treatment. These data are related to another important aspect: the still widespread distrust of prescribing or starting pharmacological treatment during pregnancy. The belief that NVP is a ‘physiological’ disorder often leads to underestimation of NVP and prolongs the suffering of expectant mothers, thereby impacting quality of life and psychological well-being.
“It is important that NVP is recognized as a real disorder, which deserves attention and requires a targeted path of treatment – underlines Irene Cetin, professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Milan and director of Obstetrics at the Fondazione Irccs Ca’ Granda Maggiore Policlinico hospital – Persistent symptoms, in fact, can be difficult to tolerate and their severity tends to increase over time. For the correct management of NVP, first-line therapies are available, such as the link between doxylamine and pyridoxine, whose effectiveness and safety are widely documented. Used from an early stage – he explains – allows a significant improvement in the condition and helps women to experience pregnancy more calmly and consciously”.
In addition to therapy, an important role is also played by assessment tools that help precisely measure the severity of NVP and its impact on quality of life. Among these, the Puqe Test currently represents the international standard: through 3 simple questions, it allows you to determine the intensity of symptoms and monitor their progress. For a more in-depth evaluation of severe forms, such as hyperemesis gravidarum – experts clarify – a Help Score was developed that takes the 3 Puqe questions and adds 9 additional questions, which allows you to check aspects such as symptom management, weakness, hydration, oral intake, ongoing care and clinical progress.
Our aim – explains Elsa Viora, president-elect of Sigo and former head of SSD Ultrasound and Prenatal Diagnosis at the Sant’Anna hospital in Turin – is to standardize the evaluation and management of NVP in the national territory, dispelling the still widespread belief that it is an unavoidable physiological phenomenon and guaranteeing that all women receive help timely and appropriate to their needs. We therefore believe that it is important to use Sigo’s communication and training channels to share emerging data widely and encourage constructive discussions between professionals”. Mario Mangrella, Italfarmaco’s director of medical, scientific and regulatory affairs, stated: “Italfarmaco has always promoted initiatives and research such as Purity-Exended, which proves the company’s real commitment to scientific research. In fact, for many years, the company has been involved in the field of gynecological therapy, with the development of innovative and safe solutions. An outcome that reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life and well-being of women in all phases of their lives.”
