Hyperemesis gravidarum and fetal gender: a retrospective study

Abstract

This retrospective study of 9,980 women who delivered at the James Paget Hospital, Norfolk, UK, over 5 years, aimed to primarily determine whether the incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is higher in the presence of a female fetus. The results showed that more women with HG had a female fetus compared with women without HG. Also found was that heavy ketonuria was more prevalent in women with a female fetus compared with women with a male fetus, and the mean number of admissions per woman was also higher in women with a female fetus compared with women with a male fetus. It can be concluded that women presenting with HG are more likely to have a female fetus and that women with HG and a female fetus tend to a higher level of ketonuria and an increased number of hospital admissions.

Hyperemesis gravidarum and long‐term mortality: a population‐based cohort study

“…Bearing a female child is associated with increased levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin as well as oestrogen, and has been suggested as an explanation for the almost two‐fold increase in risk of HG in women bearing a female child 34. Whether a female fetus increases the severity of HG, is yet not clear 35, 36, 37, 38. No increased mortality was found in subanalyses stratified on fetal gender in our study.…”

Holistic assessment of women with hyperemesis gravidarum: A randomised controlled trial

“…In 0.5-2% of women the symptoms can be severe and lead to dehydration, electrolyte disturbance and significant weight loss, a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) (Bailit, 2005). Although a self limiting condition, the majority beginning by ten weeks and resolving by 20 weeks gestation, in more severe cases, 10-45% of women, it does not resolve until after the birth (Hizli et al, 2012;Kramer et al, 2013;Poursharif et al, 2008;Rashid et al, 2012).…”

“…Female foetus (Rashid et al, 2012;Veenendaal et al, 2011), previous HG (Fejzo et al, 2011, and immigrant populations (David et al, 2011) are some of the many apparent risk factors for HG. Women with HG may be at higher risk compared with those without of pre-eclampsia, placental abruption (Bolin et al, 2013) and spontaneous pre-term birth (McCarthy et al, 2011;Veenendaal et al, 2011).…”

“…The aetiology of HG is not well understood (Fell et al, 2006;Verberg et al, 2005) but is probably multi-factorial involving hormonal, immunological and psychosocial factors (Bottomley and Bourne, 2009;Rashid et al, 2012). Female foetus (Rashid et al, 2012;Veenendaal et al, 2011), previous HG (Fejzo et al, 2011, and immigrant populations (David et al, 2011) are some of the many apparent risk factors for HG.…”

“…However, the treatment is aimed at the symptoms of HG and, hence, while recovery after rehydration is fairly swift once the woman returns home, dehydration may recur necessitating another hospital admission for further rehydration. Thus HG is a common reason for multiple admissions to hospital (Rashid et al, 2012) and, consequently, consumes significant personal and health care resources (Gazmararian et al, 2002).…”