Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It was not in the Minister's opening remarks, which is okay, as those remarks were concise. It does not surprise me that some might not have heard of hyperemesis gravidarum because it is quite rare, which confirms the need to bring it up and to highlight it as well for women in this country. There is still a lot of shame, stigma and guilt attached to it. The condition is quite self-limiting for those who suffer from it. It is defined as a complication of pregnancy in which women experience extreme levels of nausea and vomiting. We know that many women experience nausea and vomiting in pregnancy – in fact, 70% to 80% of women do. It is awkward, uncomfortable and awful but it is very normal. However, it is not normal to experience that at extreme levels. Although only between 0.3% and 3.6% of pregnancies in Ireland are affected, it results in 3,000 hospitalisations.

I have notes but I do not really need them because I suffered from this three times. It is absolutely awful. You can imagine what it is like if, on waking in the morning, opening an eyelid or moving a big toe is enough to set you off. You have to run into the bathroom and vomit. Three hours later you might still be on the bathroom floor because you cannot move. Three days later you are probably in hospital on a drip replenishing the nutrients that your body has lost over the three days of cyclical vomiting that it is impossible to stop. Most of the time, it means you will be admitted to hospital.

I have experience of it but, thankfully, my experience in 2021 and 2022 was entirely different to what it was in 2011 and 2012 because of more education and awareness. The reason I bring it up now is because it will ensure that situation will only improve. One reason is due to the availability of the medication, Cariban. When I first suffered with hyperemesis in 2011, nobody knew what it was, including doctors and GPs. There was very little awareness or education. I was very lucky that a consultant in the Coombe had heard of the use of the drug, Cariban, in Canada previously, although it was not licensed in Ireland. Like me, thousands of women over the past decade paid €84 a fortnight each for the drug just to survive, be able to mind our other children or go to work, see family and function in the world.

Thankfully, Cariban was licensed in August 2024 and it is available on the DPS. It is important that GPs be made aware that they can prescribe Cariban. There is sometimes a little bit of doubt in that it used to be only available from consultants. It is important that GPs in communities all around the country realise that they can prescribe because there can sometimes be a delay in getting the drug for women when the GP they attend does not realise GPs can prescribe it.

That is just one piece. The other piece is that our communities, families, friends and, crucially, our employers need to understand that this is a very serious condition. Women are not being lazy by not going to work. They are not being irresponsible if they are not able to mind their other children. They are not being bad friends when they are not able to meet up. They need help, socially and in every other way. It is important to raise the issue. I want anybody suffering from hyperemesis in Ireland to know that we hear them and we feel for them. It is a really difficult thing, but they are so resilient and they will get through it.