Change in paternity and recurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether change in paternity changes recurrence risk of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

STUDY DESIGN: Survey data on recurrence of HG was compared between cases who had a paternity change between pregnancies and cases who did not.

RESULTS: The percentage of HG pregnancies in women with the same partner for all pregnancies was not significantly different from the percentage of HG pregnancies in women who changed partners for at least one pregnancy (78% vs 71%, p > 0.05). Participants who did and did not change partners between their first and second pregnancies, were asked to rate their first and second pregnancy in regards to symptoms of HG. Neither the ratings nor the change in rating between pregnancies was significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Women reported HG in over 70% of their pregnancies regardless of a paternity change. Paternal genes expressed through the fetus do not have a significant effect on incidence or recurrence of HG. This study supports a strong maternal genetic factor involved in HG. However, because the recurrence risk is not 100%, other factors play a role. Identification of the predisposing gene(s) and other factors will determine the cause of this poorly understood complication of pregnancy.