Maria Shriver is speaking out about the excruciating experience of severe morning sickness, as scientists work on groundbreaking research to aid pregnant women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum.

During a recent segment on the Today Show, the journalist and mother of four, 68, shared insights into the rare illness. She described hyperemesis gravidarum as a condition that causes pregnant women to become violently ill for months, rendering them unable to eat, walk, or function normally. Shriver emphasized that the cost for treating this condition exceeds $3 billion annually and recounted her own agonizing experience, which often led to hospitalization.

Shriver highlighted the absence of a diagnostic test for hyperemesis gravidarum and interviewed Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a geneticist at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and a leading researcher on the condition. Dr. Fejzo, who suffered from the illness herself two decades ago, lost her baby as a result. She emphasized the urgency of understanding the cause of the condition to prevent others from enduring similar ordeals.

Dr. Fejzo’s research has identified a genetic link to hyperemesis gravidarum, indicating a 17-fold increased risk of developing the condition if a sister has experienced it. Her goal is to develop a genetic test for hyperemesis and establish treatments to alleviate symptoms. Hyperemesis gravidarum is characterized by extreme and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, leading to weight loss, dehydration, headaches, fainting, and fatigue. It affects less than 3% of pregnant individuals and is considered a high-risk pregnancy condition.

Last month, Dr. Fejzo co-authored a study published in the journal Nature, which pinpointed a specific hormone as the cause of the most severe cases of hyperemesis. This discovery marks a significant advancement in understanding and potentially treating this debilitating condition.