A systematic review of qualitative research on the impact of severe pregnancy sickness—hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)—published today in the British Journal of Midwifery has shown that some women can become suicidal from the severity and long duration of symptoms.

The review, which was conducted by Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS) and researchers at the University of Plymouth, involved 446 women, with four main themes encapsulating women’s experience emerging from the research:

•Social isolation

•The inability to care for oneself and others

•Negative psychosocial effect, guilt, and loss of self

•Sense of dying and suicidal ideation

Caitlin Dean, lead researcher for the review and chairperson for leading UK charity PSS, which runs a helpline for the condition, said:

“It is not uncommon for us to have calls to the helpline from women who are so distressed by the severity of the condition and the lack of help they are receiving that they are suicidal. We have to start taking women seriously. We may not have an effective cure for HG yet, but with a compassionate and holistic approach to care, which appreciates the profound effect the condition is having on a woman and her life, women need not suffer as much as they currently do.”

Dr. Katrina Bannigan, associate professor (reader) in occupational therapy, and Professor Jonathan Marsden, chair in rehabilitation, were also part of the research team.

HG affects around 15,000 pregnancies every year. Suicide and HG were recently linked in the tragic case of Polly Ross, a mother who committed suicide in 2015. The 32-year-old mother had been turned away from specialist mother and baby services and HG had compounded her mental health issues, an inquest heard.

Many women feel they are left with little choice but to end their pregnancy, and severe sickness is estimated to be a factor in at least 1,000 terminations per year.

Clare Murphy, director of External Affairs at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said:

“Swift and straightforward access to abortion services should always be available to any woman suffering from severe pregnancy sickness, but if we were able to acknowledge the severity of women’s symptoms and provide better support earlier, both in terms of clinical treatment and psychological support, it’s possible that some women would be able to avoid the termination of a wanted pregnancy. Whether the pregnancy ends in termination or birth, the longer terms effects of poorly treated HG are starting to become clear.”

British Journal of Midwifery editor, Lauren Newman, who published the research today said:

"Hyperemesis gravidarum has been underappreciated in the academic literature for far too long, so we are pleased to be able to increase awareness of the potentially devastating effects of the condition through well-conducted systematic reviews."