A molar pregnancy refers to a condition where the tissues in a woman’s body that generally develop into the fetus, form into an abnormal growth instead. This growth in the uterus is known as a mole. Although this growth is not an embryo, it can trigger off the symptoms of pregnancy in a woman. Approximately 1 in 1000 women who go through the symptoms of early pregnancy are actually going through a molar pregnancy. This mole can also lead to serious problems or complications in a woman and therefore, it should be removed as soon as possible. It is important to understand the causes of molar pregnancies as well as the treatment options...
...A molar pregnancy can be of two kinds – Complete molar pregnancy and Partial molar pregnancy. Complete molar pregnancy occurs when a sperm fertilizes an egg with no genetic information. The sperm grows on its own but instead of forming into a fetus it turns into a grape-like cluster, known as a mole, filling the uterus. Partial molar pregnancy occurs when two sperm fertilize an egg. Normally, this situation should create twins, but in a molar pregnancy, the placenta grows into a mole.
In some cases a pregnancy may appear to be twins, but examinations reveal that one formation is the fetus, but the other a mole. However, this condition is very rare.
A molar pregnancy is usually the result of an abnormally fertilized egg. The genetic formation of an egg or a sperm can be one of the main causes of a molar pregnancy. The factors that increase the risks of a molar pregnancy are:
The chances for future healthy pregnancies can be preserved by understanding the causes of the molar pregnancy and with thorough and careful monitoring of a molar pregnancy. In case you experience symptoms like vaginal discharge of grape-shaped tissues or vaginal bleeding, in addition to the regular symptoms of pregnancy, please inform your doctor or gynecologist immediately. The presence of a molar pregnancy may need to be confirmed through a pelvic exam, a pelvic ultrasound or a blood test for measuring your hormonal levels. The treatment of a molar pregnancy requires the removal of the growth form the uterus. Thereafter, regular blood tests will need to be conducted for the next 6 to 12 months, to check for the presence of a trophoblastic disease.
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