Ep 226. Why Hyperemesis Gravidarum Is Genetic, Not Psychological

Ep 226. Why Hyperemesis Gravidarum Is Genetic, Not Psychological

From The Science of Motherhood by Dr Renee White

May 11, 2026 · 20 min · Season 2 · Episode 226

About this episode

Dr Renee White discusses the genetic and hormonal basis of hyperemesis gravidarum, debunking the myth that it is a psychological condition.

Have you ever been so sick in pregnancy that you couldn't keep water down, lost weight, or ended up in hospital wondering how your body was supposed to sustain a baby when it couldn't sustain itself? If that's your story, or the story of someone you love, you've probably also been told at some point that it was stress, anxiety, or something you just needed to push through. It wasn't. And the science has finally caught up with what HG patients have been saying for decades. In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks the genetic and hormonal research that proved once and for all that hyperemesis gravidarum isn't psychological. It lives in a gene, it runs through a receptor, and it has nothing to do with how much you wanted your pregnancy. You'll Hear About: Why HG is a distinct condition from morning sickness How a placental hormone called GDF15 drives severe nausea Why your baseline levels before pregnancy predict your risk What the beta thalassemia finding revealed about sensitivity How pre-pregnancy desensitisation could prevent HG entirely Your body wasn't failing you. It was responding to a hormonal contrast it hadn't been prepared for, and now researchers know exactly why. The…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Renee White

Topics covered

  • hyperemesis gravidarum
  • pregnancy sickness
  • genetic research
  • hormonal influences
  • maternal health

Keywords

  • hyperemesis gravidarum
  • pregnancy nausea
  • GDF15 hormone
  • genetic predisposition
  • maternal health

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