Nausea and vomiting associate with increasing maternal androgen levels in otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that maternal androgen levels associate with nausea and vomiting in otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-nine women with uncomplicated pregnancies, reported nausea and vomiting in weeks 17, 25, 33, 37, and when admitted for delivery. Maternal levels of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured and the free testosterone index calculated in weeks 17 and 33 of pregnancy.


RESULTS
Maternal levels of androstenedione and DHEAS associated positively with nausea and vomiting in week 17. In week 33, testosterone and DHEAS associated positively with nausea and vomiting, as well as androstenedione. A calculated emesis score associated positively with increasing average levels of both androstenedione and testosterone during pregnancy, as well as the free testosterone index.


CONCLUSIONS
Nausea and vomiting associate with increasing maternal androgen levels during otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies. Whether androgens are causally related to emesis gravidarum remains unknown.
Carlsen
Sven Magnus
SM
Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, St. Olavs. Hospital, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway. sven.carlsen@medisin.ntnu.no
Vanky
Eszter
E
Jacobsen
Geir
G
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009325:Nausea / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014839:Vomiting / Q000097:blood*
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate