Scientists are getting closer to explaining why some pregnancies are marked by relentless nausea and vomiting that go far beyond typical morning sickness. Emerging research points to a single hormone, GDF‑15, produced by the placenta and fetus, as a key driver behind these severe symptoms, including hyperemesis gravidarum.
This hormone has moved to the center of scientific efforts to understand why some women experience mild nausea while others face debilitating illness lasting for weeks or months.
