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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1462860

Assessing the Approaches to Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: Insights from a Nationwide Survey of Italian Gynecologists (PURITY Light

Provisionally accepted
Romolo Di Iorio Romolo Di Iorio 1*Paola Bianchi Paola Bianchi 1Elena Casolati Elena Casolati 2Elena Piccolo Elena Piccolo 3Mario Mangrella Mario Mangrella 3
  • 1 Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy
  • 2 Private practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Milan, Italy
  • 3 Medical Affairs Department, Italfarmaco SpA, Cinisello Balsamo (MI), Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) affect approximately 70-85% of pregnant women, starting between weeks 6 and 8 and often subsiding by week 20. This study evaluates the therapeutic approaches of Italian gynecologists in the treatment of NVP. In the Italian healthcare system, gynecologists play a central role in prenatal care and are the primary healthcare providers for pregnant women, unlike in other countries where midwives may have a more prominent role. Methods From June to September 2022, a survey of Italian gynecologists was conducted during 15 scientific conferences. The questionnaire collected demographic data and information on clinical practices to support the management of NVP. Statistical analysis assessed the effect of demographic characteristics on clinical behavior. Results Data from 157 participants, mainly women (72.61%) and professionals from the Public Health System (63.69%), were analyzed. 77.71% always checked NVP during the first visit, based on patients' reports (84.71%). 54.78% prescribed medication in mild cases, mainly the doxylamine/pyridoxine combination (64.97%). Discussion The results show varied practices influenced by demographic and professional factors. Many physicians treat only severe cases of NVP, perceiving it as a transient discomfort, which may lead to poor management. Balanced care is needed to improve the quality of life for pregnant women with NVP.

    Keywords: Nausea, Vomiting, Pregnancy, Gynecologists, Pharmacotherapy, Hyperemesis Gravidarum

    Received: 10 Jul 2024; Accepted: 07 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Di Iorio, Bianchi, Casolati, Piccolo and Mangrella. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Romolo Di Iorio, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Lazio, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.