Sick to the STOMACH
WHEN IT COMES TO NAUSEA, HORMONES CAN BE THE CAUSE
Let’s talk hormones… and nausea! Very few of us tolerate nausea well, and yet there are many times in life that the body likes to challenge us with it. Stomach bugs, food poisoning, motion sickness, pregnancy, menopause and, for some, even their monthly menstrual cycle.
WHAT IS NAUSEA?
Both nausea and vomiting can be seen as our frontline defence mechanism. The unpleasant urge to vomit, aka nausea, comes from a continuous feedback loop between the enteric, central and autonomic nervous systems. In a nutshell, this means our gut talks to our brain and vice versa to identify danger – for example, a toxin – and revolt against it.
NAUSEA AND HORMONES
When it comes to hormones and nausea, the exact pathogenesis (meaning cause) is not entirely known. So, let’s take a short journey through a few implicated hormones…
Around 75 per cent of women experience nausea in pregnancy. The most well-known culprit is the hormone BHCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). This relationship has largely been found since the peak of nausea symptoms is also when the highest levels of BHCG are found circulating in your blood.
However, interestingly, even if you have the same level of BHCG in your blood as your pregnant friend, your experience may be different. Some of us get away with very little and others end up with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe and dangerous form of nausea and vomiting that is so bad it can cause electrolyte abnormalities and require hospital admission.
Both estrogen and progesterone (the ovarian hormones) have also been implicated in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy as they affect the transit time of the gastrointestinal
tract (how quickly food passes from your stomach, through your bowels and to the toilet).
Interestingly, in menopause, while most symptoms appear to be linked to estrogen, some research suggests it is the reduction in progesterone levels that cause nausea, bloating and indigestion. Many women also experience nausea during their monthly cycle and from the contraceptive pill.
SOME OTHER CAUSES…
It is good to keep in mind that fatigue, stress and poor diet can contribute to nausea and play havoc with your hormones. If this is you, try some natural remedies like herbal teas, ginger, foods rich in B vitamins (like bananas), plain crackers and plenty of water. If your nausea persists, it is time to see your doctor.