Pharmafile Logo

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.

- PMLiVE

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 

A Sparkling Achievement: Sarah Atwood Celebrated as a 2024 CPD Forty Under 40

For Sarah Atwood, MPH, the proudest moment of her incredible career in education and instructional design is happening right now. Atwood is an instructional designer with a public health lens...

A Successful Outing at ASH 2024

Medscape has wrapped up their work at this year’s ASH annual meeting in San Diego. During the conference, Medscape hosted 8 symposia that presented the latest data and supported advancing...

Highlighting the Power of Patient-Integration

Advancing person-centered care is an important topic for the Medscape Oncology team, and no one knows this better than Dr Victoria Harvey-Jones, Associate Director of Clinical Strategy for Medscape Oncology...

Education, AI and More at ASH 2024

Medscape will showcase eight educational symposia and three posters at ASH 2024, highlighting advancements in hematology and oncology education. The presentations will reflect on the impact of last year's programs,...

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Medscape Education at AHA 2024!

Come join Medscape Education at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2024 Scientific Sessions in Chicago, IL, from November 16-18 — a dynamic event packed with cutting-edge cardiology education that you...

Medscape Publication is Awarded Poster of Distinction at AASLD

Medscape Education is committed to disseminating the outcomes of the education programs through peer-reviewed publications and posters at leading medical conferences around the world. To this end, Medscape publishes more...

Advancing Education at AASLD 2024

Get ready for an exciting experience at AASLD 2024! The Medscape team is thrilled to be in San Diego from November 15-19 for this year’s AASLD conference, where we will...

Recognizing C diff Awareness Month in 2024

Every year, the medical community recognizes the month of November as Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Awareness month. C. diff is a public health threat that causes around 500,000 infections every...

Medscape Education presenting at the 17th Annual European CME Forum

With a commitment to advancing the field of continuing medical education, the Medscape team will be travelling to Madrid for the 17th Annual European CME Forum and bringing with them...

Sex, Gender, and the Brain: The Women’s Brain Foundation and Medscape Education Announce Groundbreaking Learning Centre

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Women’s Brain Foundation (WBF), the global pioneer that has advanced the inclusion of sex- and gender-based evidence-generation in all research, drug development, and healthcare since 2017; and Medscape...