Active bulimia complicates pregnancy

Pregnant women who binge and purge are more likely to miscarry or give premature birth as compared to those who don't.Researchers from the Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, UK, found that screening pregnant women for eating disorders is important as it might help in reducing the rates of miscarriage and prematurity. Previous studies have suggested a link between bulimia nervosa and poor pregnancy outcomes. To investigate, the researchers compared pregnancies for 122 women with active bulimia during pregnancy and 82 with inactive disease.

It was found that the women with active disease were roughly 3 times more likely to have miscarriages or deliver their babies prematurely. They also were more than 3 times as likely to suffer from postnatal depression. Women with active bulimia were 30 times more likely to have had an unplanned pregnancy. This is likely because, women with bulimia frequently have irregular periods. A lot of women assume that they're subfertile, so they take more risks. Vomiting can also interfere with the effectiveness of the birth control pill.Pregnancy offers a window of opportunity for women with bulimia, given that issues of fertility and motherhood can be strong motivators to get better. If someone has an eating disorder, they should talk to their healthcare provider, as bulimia responds quite readily to treatment.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy has proved to be the most effective treatment, with 10 to 13 sessions resulting in a cure for 70 percent of bulimia patients. In areas, where access to specialist treatment can be limited, guided self-help along with a few meetings with a midwife can be an excellent option.

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