Torri Metz

Last updated
Torri Metz
Alma mater University of Colorado
University of Utah
Known for Adverse effects of marijuana on pregnancy
COVID-19 and pregnancy outcomes
AwardsACOG District VIII Mentor of the Year Award
Scientific career
Fields Maternal-fetal medicine
Obstetrics and gynecology
Marijuana
Institutions University of Colorado
Denver Health
University of Utah

Torri Metz is an American obstetrician and high-risk pregnancy researcher at the University of Utah Health. Metz is an associate professor of maternal-fetal medicine and is the vice chair of research in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah. Metz is known for her research exploring the effects of marijuana on pregnancy outcomes.

Contents

Early life and education

Metz attended the University of Colorado Boulder for her undergraduate degree in chemistry. [1] Metz stayed at the University of Colorado for medical school. Metz was inspired to pursue obstetrics and gynecology after a rotation with an obstetrician in medical school. [2] She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado in Denver. [3] [2] Metz then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to pursue a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Utah Health. During this time, she also completed a Master of Science degree in clinical investigation. [3]

Career and research

Following her fellowship, Metz returned to the University of Colorado as an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine and worked at both Denver Health and the University of Colorado Hospital. [4] [5]  In 2018, Metz was recruited to the University of Utah Health where she became an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology. [6] In 2022, she was selected as the Vice Chair of Research at the University of Utah Health. [6] Metz also is the director and principal investigator of the ELEVATE Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence which aims to address maternal health disparities especially among rural and Native American women. [7]

Marijuana use in pregnancy

Metz has dedicated much of her research career to exploring the effects of marijuana on adverse birth outcomes. In 2018, Metz and her colleagues found that dispensary employees in Colorado were recommending cannabis products to pregnant women, even stating that they are safe to use, against the recommendation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. [5] [8] This finding was important for physicians to know how and where patients might be getting misinformation regarding cannabis products and their use in pregnancy. [9] [10]

Following this work, Metz found that marijuana use in pregnancy is harmful both to the birthing patient and the newborn. [11] [12] Her work, published in JAMA in 2023, [13] showed that continued marijuana use throughout pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight. [14] [15] Marijuana use is also associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the birthing patient such as pre-eclampsia. [16]

COVID-19 in pregnancy

Metz has also conducted research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant people. [17] Metz has found that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk of mortality and of highly morbid conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage and severely elevated blood pressure. [18] Her work highlighted the risks pregnant women face, especially if unvaccinated and exposed to COVID-19. [19] [20] Her research also found that pregnant women with COVID-19 have higher rates of C-section, prematurity, and stillbirth. [21] [22]

Awards and honors

Select publications

Metz TD, Allshouse AA, Hogue CJ, Goldenberg RL, Dudley DJ, Varner MW, Conway DL, Saade GR, Silver RM. Maternal marijuana use, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal morbidity. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct;217(4):478.e1-478.e8. doi : 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.050. Epub 2017 May 31. PMID   28578174; PMCID: PMC5614818. [24]

Dickson B, Mansfield C, Guiahi M, Allshouse AA, Borgelt LM, Sheeder J, Silver RM, Metz TD. Recommendations From Cannabis Dispensaries About First-Trimester Cannabis Use. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jun;131(6):1031-1038. doi : 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002619. PMID   29742676; PMCID: PMC5970054. [25]

Metz TD, Clifton RG, Hughes BL, Sandoval GJ, Grobman WA, Saade GR, Manuck TA, Longo M, Sowles A, Clark K, Simhan HN, Rouse DJ, Mendez-Figueroa H, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Bailit JL, Costantine MM, Sehdev HM, Tita ATN, Macones GA; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network. Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Serious Maternal Morbidity and Mortality From Obstetric Complications. JAMA. 2022 Feb 22;327(8):748-759. doi : 10.1001/jama.2022.1190. PMID   35129581; PMCID: PMC8822445. [26]

Metz TD, Allshouse AA, McMillin GA, Greene T, Chung JH, Grobman WA, Haas DM, Mercer BM, Parry S, Reddy UM, Saade GR, Simhan HN, Silver RM. Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function. JAMA. 2023 Dec 12;330(22):2191-2199. doi : 10.1001/jama.2023.21146. PMID   38085313; PMCID: PMC10716715. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maternal death</span> Aspect of human reproduction and medicine

Maternal death or maternal mortality is defined in slightly different ways by several different health organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal death as the death of a pregnant mother due to complications related to pregnancy, underlying conditions worsened by the pregnancy or management of these conditions. This can occur either while she is pregnant or within six weeks of resolution of the pregnancy. The CDC definition of pregnancy-related deaths extends the period of consideration to include one year from the resolution of the pregnancy. Pregnancy associated death, as defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), are all deaths occurring within one year of a pregnancy resolution. Identification of pregnancy associated deaths is important for deciding whether or not the pregnancy was a direct or indirect contributing cause of the death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Placenta praevia</span> Medical condition

Placenta praevia is when the placenta attaches inside the uterus but in a position near or over the cervical opening. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy. The bleeding is bright red and tends not to be associated with pain. Complications may include placenta accreta, dangerously low blood pressure, or bleeding after delivery. Complications for the baby may include fetal growth restriction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Placental abruption</span> Medical condition

Placental abruption is when the placenta separates early from the uterus, in other words separates before childbirth. It occurs most commonly around 25 weeks of pregnancy. Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, and dangerously low blood pressure. Complications for the mother can include disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and kidney failure. Complications for the baby can include fetal distress, low birthweight, preterm delivery, and stillbirth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large for gestational age</span> Medical condition

Large for gestational age (LGA) is a term used to describe infants that are born with an abnormally high weight, specifically in the 90th percentile or above, compared to other babies of the same developmental age. Macrosomia is a similar term that describes excessive birth weight, but refers to an absolute measurement, regardless of gestational age. Typically the threshold for diagnosing macrosomia is a body weight between 4,000 and 4,500 grams, or more, measured at birth, but there are difficulties reaching a universal agreement of this definition.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration. Feeling faint may also occur. It is considered more severe than morning sickness. Symptoms often get better after the 20th week of pregnancy but may last the entire pregnancy duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Complications of pregnancy</span> Medical condition

Complications of pregnancy are health problems that are related to, or arise during pregnancy. Complications that occur primarily during childbirth are termed obstetric labor complications, and problems that occur primarily after childbirth are termed puerperal disorders. While some complications improve or are fully resolved after pregnancy, some may lead to lasting effects, morbidity, or in the most severe cases, maternal or fetal mortality.

In biology and medicine, gravidity and parity are the number of times a female has been pregnant (gravidity) and carried the pregnancies to a viable gestational age (parity). These two terms are usually coupled, sometimes with additional terms, to indicate more details of the female's obstetric history. When using these terms:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maternal–fetal medicine</span> Branch of medicine

Maternal–fetal medicine (MFM), also known as perinatology, is a branch of medicine that focuses on managing health concerns of the mother and fetus prior to, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

Women should speak to their doctor or healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medications while pregnant. Non-essential drugs and medications should be avoided while pregnant. Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drug use while pregnant may be dangerous for the unborn baby and may lead to severe health problems and/or birth defects. Even small amounts of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana have not been proven to be safe when taken while pregnant. In some cases, for example, if the mother has epilepsy or diabetes, the risk of stopping a medication may be worse than risks associated with taking the medication while pregnant. The mother's healthcare professional will help make these decisions about the safest way to protect the health of both the mother and unborn child. In addition to medications and substances, some dietary supplements are important for a healthy pregnancy, however, others may cause harm to the unborn child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-risk pregnancy</span> Medical condition

A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy where the mother or the fetus has an increased risk of adverse outcomes compared to uncomplicated pregnancies. No concrete guidelines currently exist for distinguishing “high-risk” pregnancies from “low-risk” pregnancies; however, there are certain studied conditions that have been shown to put the mother or fetus at a higher risk of poor outcomes. These conditions can be classified into three main categories: health problems in the mother that occur before she becomes pregnant, health problems in the mother that occur during pregnancy, and certain health conditions with the fetus.

A pre-existing disease in pregnancy is a disease that is not directly caused by the pregnancy, in contrast to various complications of pregnancy, but which may become worse or be a potential risk to the pregnancy. A major component of this risk can result from necessary use of drugs in pregnancy to manage the disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in pregnancy</span> Effects of cannabis consumption during pregnancy

Cannabis consumption in pregnancy may or may not be associated with restrictions in growth of the fetus, miscarriage, and cognitive deficits. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that cannabis use be stopped before and during pregnancy. There has not been any official link between birth defects and marijuana use. Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among pregnant women.

Hypertensive disease of pregnancy, also known as maternal hypertensive disorder, is a group of high blood pressure disorders that include preeclampsia, preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maternal mortality in the United States</span> Overview of maternal mortality in the United States

Maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during her pregnancy or up to a year after her pregnancy has terminated; this metric only includes causes related to the pregnancy, and does not include accidental causes. Some sources will define maternal mortality as the death of a woman up to 42 days after the pregnancy has ended, instead of one year. In 1986, the CDC began tracking pregnancy-related deaths to gather information and determine what was causing these deaths by creating the Pregnancy-Related Mortality Surveillance System. According to a 2010-2011 report although the United States was spending more on healthcare than any other country in the world, more than two women died during childbirth every day, making maternal mortality in the United States the highest when compared to 49 other countries in the developed world.

Jennifer R. Niebyl (1942) is a Canadian obstetrics and gynecology researcher and professor. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of drugs in pregnancy and lactation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Bodnar</span> American nutritional and perinatal epidemiologist

Lisa Bodnar is an American nutritional and perinatal epidemiologist. She is the Vice-Chair for Research and a tenured professor at University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on the contributions of pregnancy weight gain, dietary patterns, maternal obesity, and maternal vitamin D deficiency to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gestational weight gain</span> Increase in body weight during pregnancy

Gestational weight gain is defined as the amount of weight gain a woman experiences between conception and birth of an infant.

Jeannette R. Ickovics is an American health and social psychologist. She is the inaugural Samuel and Liselotte Herman Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health and Professor of Psychology at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Yale University. She was the Founding Chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health and the Founding Director of Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE). She served as the Dean of Faculty at Yale-NUS College in Singapore from 2018 to 2021.

Opioid use during pregnancy can have significant implications for both the mother and the developing fetus.

Ebony Carter is an obstetrician, reproductive health equity researcher and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Carter is the Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at University of North Carolina School of Medicine. As a physician-scientist, Carter is known for her research and implementation of community-based interventions to improve health equity among pregnant patients. Carter is the inaugural Associate Editor of Equity for the academic journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

References

  1. ↑ "Torri D. Metz | University of Utah Health". healthcare.utah.edu. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  2. 1 2 "Torri D. Metz, M.D. | NHLBI, NIH". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Editors Selected to Lead Obstetrics & Gynecology During Transition". Obstetrics & Gynecology. 136 (5): 873. November 2020. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004153. ISSN   0029-7844. PMID   33962457.
  4. ↑ "Torri D Metz CV" (PDF). CU Anschutz. Jan 11, 2024. Retrieved Jan 11, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Nedelman, Michael (2018-05-10). "Marijuana shops recommend products to pregnant women, against doctors' warnings". CNN. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  6. 1 2 3 "Torri Metz Selected as New Deputy Editor for Obstetrics for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal | University of Utah Health | University of Utah Health". uofuhealth.utah.edu. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  7. ↑ Communication, Marketing and (2023-09-11). "New Maternal Health Research Center Aims to Reduce Pregnancy-Related Deaths | University of Utah Health". healthcare.utah.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  8. ↑ Daley, John. "Study: Dispensaries Recommend Marijuana To Pregnant Women, Against Medical Advice". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  9. ↑ Post, John Ingold | The Denver (2018-05-09). "Nearly 280 marijuana stores in Colorado suggested cannabis for pregnancy-related nausea, a new study shows. Health officials urge the opposite". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  10. ↑ Allen, Margaret (2016-05-20). "Is It Safe to Smoke Weed While Pregnant? Separating Science from Hysteria". Vice. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  11. ↑ Malhi, Sabrina (2023-12-14). "Cannabis use linked to higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, study finds". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  12. ↑ Rudy, Melissa (2023-12-15). "Marijuana use by pregnant women linked to low birth weight: study". Fox News . Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  13. ↑ "Becker Medical Library Proxy". login.beckerproxy.wustl.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  14. ↑ "Marijuana use during pregnancy linked to low birth weight, study finds". NBC News. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  15. ↑ Communication, Marketing and (2023-12-12). "Cannabis Exposure Linked to 1.3 Times Higher Risk of Unhealthy Pregnancy Outcomes | University of Utah Health". healthcare.utah.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  16. ↑ "Is it safe to use cannabis during pregnancy? Here's what Utah researchers found". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  17. ↑ "University of Utah doctor leads national study on COVID-19 and pregnancy". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  18. ↑ Florido, Adrian (March 6, 2022). "Pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are at a higher risk for death". National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ "COVID-19 linked to serious health complications during pregnancy". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  20. ↑ "Here's what Utah doctors are advising pregnant women about COVID-19 vaccines". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  21. ↑ "Study finds link between COVID-19, pregnancy complications". ny1.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  22. ↑ Hart, Robert. "Covid-19 Raises Risk Of Pregnancy Complications—Including Death Around Birth, Preterm Delivery And Postpartum Hemorrhage—Study Finds". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  23. 1 2 "NICHD 60th Anniversary Symposium" (PDF). NIH.gov. Oct 17, 2022. Retrieved Jan 11, 2024.
  24. ↑ Metz, Torri D.; Allshouse, Amanda A.; Hogue, Carol J.; Goldenberg, Robert L.; Dudley, Donald J.; Varner, Michael W.; Conway, Deborah L.; Saade, George R.; Silver, Robert M. (October 2017). "Maternal marijuana use, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal morbidity". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 217 (4): 478.e1–478.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2017.05.050. ISSN   1097-6868. PMC   5614818 . PMID   28578174.
  25. ↑ Dickson, Betsy; Mansfield, Chanel; Guiahi, Maryam; Allshouse, Amanda A.; Borgelt, Laura M.; Sheeder, Jeanelle; Silver, Robert M.; Metz, Torri D. (June 2018). "Recommendations From Cannabis Dispensaries About First-Trimester Cannabis Use". Obstetrics & Gynecology. 131 (6): 1031–1038. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002619. ISSN   0029-7844. PMC   5970054 . PMID   29742676.
  26. ↑ Metz, Torri D.; Clifton, Rebecca G.; Hughes, Brenna L.; Sandoval, Grecio J.; Grobman, William A.; Saade, George R.; Manuck, Tracy A.; Longo, Monica; Sowles, Amber; Clark, Kelly; Simhan, Hyagriv N.; Rouse, Dwight J.; Mendez-Figueroa, Hector; Gyamfi-Bannerman, Cynthia; Bailit, Jennifer L. (2022-02-22). "Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Serious Maternal Morbidity and Mortality From Obstetric Complications". JAMA. 327 (8): 748–759. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.1190. ISSN   0098-7484. PMC   8822445 . PMID   35129581.
  27. ↑ Metz, Torri D.; Allshouse, Amanda A.; McMillin, Gwendolyn A.; Greene, Tom; Chung, Judith H.; Grobman, William A.; Haas, David M.; Mercer, Brian M.; Parry, Samuel; Reddy, Uma M.; Saade, George R.; Simhan, Hyagriv N.; Silver, Robert M. (2023). "Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function". JAMA. 330 (22): 2191–2199. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.21146. PMC  10716715. PMID   38085313. S2CID   266224086 . Retrieved 2024-01-12.
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