A controlled, longitudinal study of olfactory perception and symptoms of pregnancy sickness.
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Date
Authors
Dastur, Farhad N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Dalhousie University
Abstract
Description
Background. Pregnancy sickness---food/odor aversions, nausea and vomiting---affects 50--90% of women during early pregnancy. Very little data exists on changes in olfactory perception as part of the pregnancy sickness symptomatology.
Objectives. To document changes in olfactory sensitivity and identification, food aversions and cravings, and nausea and vomiting at each trimester and postpartum.
Design. A controlled, longitudinal, quasi-experimental study.
Participants. Nineteen pregnant and 18 nonpregnant healthy women volunteers.
Main outcome measures. Odor detection thresholds, olfactory identification ability, number of food aversions and cravings, total symptomatic distress over a 12-hour period from nausea and vomiting.
Results. Olfactory sensitivity was heightened at each trimester, but not postpartum, relative to nonpregnant women and was greatest at first trimester. Olfactory identification did not differ between groups or between the three trimesters and postpartum. Food aversions did not differ between pregnant and nonpregnant women, but, first trimester aversions were higher than second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum. Food cravings did not differ between groups or between the three trimesters and postpartum. First trimester women had more vegetable aversions and more fruit cravings than controls. First trimester distress from nausea and vomiting was greater than controls.
Conclusions. Olfactory sensitivity, vegetable aversions, fruit cravings, and nausea and vomiting increased during the first trimester relative to nonpregnant women. Following independent replication of these results, consideration should be given to broadening the definition of pregnancy sickness to include increased first trimester olfactory sensitivity.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 2000.
Objectives. To document changes in olfactory sensitivity and identification, food aversions and cravings, and nausea and vomiting at each trimester and postpartum.
Design. A controlled, longitudinal, quasi-experimental study.
Participants. Nineteen pregnant and 18 nonpregnant healthy women volunteers.
Main outcome measures. Odor detection thresholds, olfactory identification ability, number of food aversions and cravings, total symptomatic distress over a 12-hour period from nausea and vomiting.
Results. Olfactory sensitivity was heightened at each trimester, but not postpartum, relative to nonpregnant women and was greatest at first trimester. Olfactory identification did not differ between groups or between the three trimesters and postpartum. Food aversions did not differ between pregnant and nonpregnant women, but, first trimester aversions were higher than second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum. Food cravings did not differ between groups or between the three trimesters and postpartum. First trimester women had more vegetable aversions and more fruit cravings than controls. First trimester distress from nausea and vomiting was greater than controls.
Conclusions. Olfactory sensitivity, vegetable aversions, fruit cravings, and nausea and vomiting increased during the first trimester relative to nonpregnant women. Following independent replication of these results, consideration should be given to broadening the definition of pregnancy sickness to include increased first trimester olfactory sensitivity.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 2000.
Keywords
Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology., Psychology, Physiological.