We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the relationship between nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and dysmenorrhea measured by a verbal rating scale. Our research included 443 pregnant women, divided into those experiencing NVP and a control group.
From our findings, we noticed a clear association between moderate to severe dysmenorrhea and a heightened risk of NVP, especially during the first trimester. This suggests that those with painful menstrual symptoms may face an increased likelihood of nausea and vomiting as part of their pregnancy experience.
Importantly, we also examined the impact of periconceptional supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Our results indicated that taking DHA could potentially lower the risk of NVP, offering a glimmer of hope for managing nausea during pregnancy. This suggests that combining DHA with standard prenatal care might be beneficial for those who struggle with these symptoms.
Overall, our study sheds light on the intricate connections between menstrual pain and pregnancy-related nausea, emphasizing the potential protective role of DHA in improving women's health during this time.