Morning Sickness in Pregnancy Linked to Hormone GDF15, Researchers Find

The severity of symptoms is determined by a woman's sensitivity to the hormone and her pre-pregnancy exposure, offering potential avenues for treatment.

Researchers from Cambridge University and the Keck School of Medicine at USC have identified the hormone GDF15 as the cause of morning sickness during pregnancy.
The hormone, produced by the fetus in the placenta, signals nausea and distress, leading to vomiting.
Women exposed to lower levels of GDF15 before pregnancy experience more severe symptoms.
Potential treatments include lowering GDF15 levels or pre-pregnancy hormone priming.
Further research is planned to confirm these findings and develop effective treatments.