According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), a molar pregnancy occurs in one of 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. In a molar pregnancy, the egg and sperm do join together but there is a genetic error during fertilization and causes a growth of abnormal tissue in the uterus. Molar pregnancies are also referred to as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) or hydatidiform mole, more commonly just “mole”.
Two Types
There are two types of molar pregnancies.
A complete molar pregnancy has no fetus in the uterus. The sperm fertilizes the egg but the egg is empty. A placenta will show in the ultrasound but no fetus is developed. The placenta will grow and produce hCG, the pregnancy hormone.
A partial molar pregnancy happens when the abnormal tissue growth not only includes the abnormal cells but also an embryo with severe defects. The fetus will be overcome by the abnormal tissue growth.
In the rare case when twins are conceived and one develops normally and the other is a "mole", the healthy twin will be consumed by the abnormal tissue very quickly.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a molar pregnancy include vaginal spotting/bleeding, nausea, vomiting, increased hCG levels, early preeclampsia, no fetal heartbeat or movement and rare complications developing such as thyroid disease.
Who’s at Risk?
Although molar pregnancies are rare in the United States, Caucasian women are at a higher risk to develop a molar pregnancy. Other women at risk include:
- Women in Mexico, southeast Asia and the Philippines
- Women over 40 years old
- Women who’ve had a previous molar pregnancy and/or miscarriage
Diagnosis
If a woman has symptoms of a molar pregnancy, she should go to her doctor so it can be diagnosed and treated. The doctor will confirm the molar pregnancy through a pelvic exam and sonogram.
Enlarged ovaries and a larger or smaller uterus will be detected in a pelvic exam. On the sonogram, a "grape" cluster will appear which signifies an abnormal placenta.
Treatment
If a molar pregnancy has no complications and is treated correctly, the chance of having another molar pregnancy is one to two percent according to the APA.
Molar pregnancies will end on their own and the tissue mass appears like grape clusters. General anesthetic is usually used during the following procedures to remove the tissue mass: suction curettage, dilation and evacuation (D&C) or even by medication.
Follow-Up
Follow-up after the procedure is needed. The doctor needs to monitor the hCG level to ensure it is going down and to make sure the mass is completely gone. If traces of the tissue mass are left, it can grow again and cause a cancerous-type threat to other body parts.
Ninety percent of women, however, need no further treatment during follow-up, states the APA. The APA recommends pregnancy be avoided for one year and all forms of birth control are acceptable except an intrauterine device.
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