Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3915114 Contraception 2007 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

BackgroundThis study was conducted to describe characteristics of women who terminated their pregnancies secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).Study DesignData were obtained from a survey provided on an HG Web site from 2003 to 2005.ResultsOf 808 women who completed the survey, 123 (15.2%) had at least one termination due to HG, and 49 (6.1%) had multiple terminations. Prominent reasons given for the terminations were inability to care for the family and self (66.7%), fear that they or their baby could die (51.2%), or that the baby would be abnormal (22.0%). These same women were three times as likely to state that their health care providers were uncaring or did not understand how sick they were [64/123 (52.0%) vs. 168/685 (24.5%), odds ratio 3.34 (95% CI 2.21–5.05), p<.001].ConclusionThese data suggest that the physical and psychological burden of HG has been underestimated, and that further education within the medical community may be warranted.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health
Authors
, , , , , ,