Why We Must Stop Normalizing the “Pregnancy Itch”
February 18, 2026 | HearFromHer, RareDisease
In the world of rare diseases, success is often measured by the speed of diagnosis. However, for women facing rare liver conditions like Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP), the medical system often defaults to “normalizing” debilitating symptoms.
Listen to the full episode here.
In the latest episode of the Hear From Her podcast, Tatyana Kushner (Weill Cornell Medicine) and Andrea Goldstein (Mirum Pharmaceuticals), discuss why this status quo is dangerous. While ICP might present as “just an itch,” it is a complex condition where elevated bile acids can lead to severe risks for the infant, including respiratory distress or stillbirth.
The Data Behind the Disparities Recent research led by Dr. Kushner suggests a 70% recurrence rate for ICP in subsequent pregnancies. Furthermore, the data reveals significant racial disparities; for instance, while Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) was long thought to be a condition primarily affecting Northern European women, it is now clear that women of color face significant barriers to diagnosis and access to care.
Listen to the full episode here.
The Future of Care: Genetics and Advocacy
- Genetic Insights: Lowering the threshold for genetic testing can help women understand their risks before they even conceive.
- Interdisciplinary Action: Effective management requires a “bridge” between hepatologists and OB-GYNs to ensure symptoms aren’t dismissed at the first point of contact.
- Clinical Courage: Despite the challenges of conducting trials in pregnant populations, “compassionate use” programs and innovative research are paving the way for new treatments.
As Andrea Goldstein puts it, “Every failure in a study leads to key learnings that help us be successful the next time.” For the modern clinician and patient alike, the goal is clear: don’t just learn the system—have the courage to change it. Listen to the full episode here.
Follow us for updates on upcoming podcasts and more insightful conversations.
For more information, please contact Jelena Spyropoulos.
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professional
This content was provided by Medscape Education
Company Details
Latest Content from Medscape Education
Medscape Education: Pioneering Pathways at ESMO 2025
Medscape Oncology will be pioneering pathways at the 2025 ESMO congress taking place in Berlin, Germany this October.
Game On: Medscape Education Golfs for a Cause
Medscape Education is proud to stand alongside the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) as a sponsor of one of the nation’s most impactful charity events benefiting patients living with kidney disease,…
Innovation in Action at AAFP FMX 2025
This year, Medscape Education is redefining the live learning experience at AAFP FMX 2025. With 8 groundbreaking, accredited symposia, we are proud to be at the heart of the meeting,…
Shifting the Paradigm: A New Era for Parkinson’s Care
In this episode of “Hear From Her:” Hear from two leaders at the forefront of a much-needed change in how Parkinson’s is understood, diagnosed, and treated.
Global Healthy Living Foundation and Medscape Education Join Forces to Bridge the Gap Between Patients and Providers with Immunology Education
UPPER NYACK, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) today announced a new partnership with Medscape Education to advance patient-centered innovation within the Immunology Learning Nexus (Nexus), Medscape’s flagship multi-year…
Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Therapies Drive Early Detection Rates While Exposing Deep Treatment Disparities
Analysis from Komodo Health and Medscape Education shows cognitive screening up 10% and biomarker testing up 23%, yet significant disparities persist in detection for women and treatment access for Black…
Virtual Practice, Real Results: The Power of Virtual Patient Simulation
Simulation has never been more vital in medicine than it is today. As increasing numbers of physicians turn to large language models for clinical answers1, the real differentiator isn’t just…
A New Destination for Oncology Education
Medscape Oncology is pleased to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new learning space designed to provide education across tumor types and oncology disciplines: PIONEER – PrecIsion Oncology: Navigating EvidEnce…
A Call to Action: Bridging the Adult Immunization Divide
Over the past few years, as new diseases have emerged or reemerged, a host of new vaccines have become available while many others are in the pipeline. For older adults,…
Medscape Education Returns as Thought Leaders to AIS 2025
📍 September 8–10, 2025 Hilton at Penn’s Landing | Philadelphia, PA Medscape Education is proud to return to the 2025 Alliance Industry Summit (AIS) as a Silver Sponsor and leading…