{"id":1309,"date":"2022-09-01T09:03:29","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/?p=1309"},"modified":"2022-09-01T09:03:29","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:03:29","slug":"cholestasis-of-pregnancy-icp-all-you-should-know-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/cholestasis-of-pregnancy-icp-all-you-should-know-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP): All You Should Know About It"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve been wondering what exactly cholestasis of pregnancy is, the professionals at <\/span>Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology in Jacksonville<\/a><\/strong> can help you.<\/span><\/p>\n

This condition affects one in 1,000 pregnant women in the U.S, and if it’s untreated, it can lead to severe problems for the baby. That’s why it needs constant monitoring and adequate treatment to reduce any potential risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been struggling with this condition or suspecting something, this article will help you clarify anything that’s been bothering you while learning more about cholestasis treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Cholestasis of Pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n

It is a severe liver condition that can cause unbearable and unpleasant itching. So, if you are experiencing itchy hands and feet during pregnancy, you should get checked to rule out the cholestasis of pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, if you’ve encountered the abbreviation ICP, it stands for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and it’s the same illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

To better understand this whole process and this condition, you need to know more about how your liver works. We will briefly discuss it and then explain why you can experience itching during pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our liver is a crucial organ in our body that helps with many processes. And its most important function is to clean out anything that’s not useful for the body. And the essential thing that helps the liver do its job is bile. It is a fluid made up of water, electrolytes, cholesterol, acids, and bilirubin. And why is it essential when it comes to cholestasis? We’ll get to that in a moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bile is activated and released from the gallbladder into the small intestine whenever you digest food. It’s because it’s supposed to help your body break down fats easily. And if you are healthy and don’t have any health conditions, everything functions perfectly, as we explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But when you have an illness like this, the explained process doesn’t function as it should, and bile acids can end up in the bloodstream and tissues and cause itching during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pregnant<\/p>\n

Causes of Cholestasis of Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, the precise cause of this condition isn’t known. However, researchers say genetic and hormonal factors are the main reasons for this disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we all know, the gestation period is when women’s hormones act differently than usual, and many changes happen inside a woman’s body. Pregnancy hormones differ from regular ones, and the higher levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause a buildup of bile inside the liver. And if it happens, it typically occurs during the third trimester.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Normally, women with a history of this condition in their family are also prone to developing cholestasis. And if you had it once, there’s a chance you’ll develop it in future pregnancies as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, women that already have problems with the health of their liver are prone to developing cholestasis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cholestasis of Pregnancy \u2013 Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n

This health condition has various symptoms, but most are easy to notice. You should talk to your OB-GYN or your midwife if you start experiencing some of these symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n