Molar Pregnancy

Molar pregnancy is an abnormality caused when the egg and sperm fuse together for fertilization. They are not commonly found or reported, they exist 1 in 1000 cases. They are referred to as disease and called gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) or hydatiform mole or in short and simple just a mole. This problem or kind of pregnancy is caused due to the error in the genetic information that takes place during the fusion of egg and sperm i.e. fertilization. The growth of this abnormal embryo that lacks the nucleus and genetic content is rapid than the normal zygote. The appearance of it is seen like the bunch of grapes kind of clustered cells.

Types

There are two types of molar pregnancies complete and partial. Complete molar pregnancy is caused when the sperm fertilizes with nucleus absent egg and the baby is completely not there. Here placenta growth takes place producing pregnancy harmones. It can be detected by an ultrasound test. Partial molar pregnancy is occurred when there is an embryo and the cells that lack genetic information and have severe defects. Feotus will be consumed faster by the abnormal tissues. There is also a rare version of partial mole when twins are formed one will be normal and the other will be defect but as they start growing inside the defect one will consume the healthy growing embryo.

Risks and Symptoms

Risks of molar pregnancy are found in US, Southeast Asia, Philippines and Mexico but US has the least number of cases than the other countries. The case is more in white woman rather than black woman in US. This is more commonly found in the women over 40 years of age and is repeated in women who had faced this problem before and also in the woman who had suffered the miscarriage. Symptoms suffered during molar pregnancies are the case of thyroid diseases that develop rare complications. Vomiting and nausea, increased secretion of pregnancy harmones hCG, feotal movement is absent, high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding or spotting. There are some examinations like sonogram and pelvic exam that clearly reveal the problem.

Treatment

Molar pregnancies can be treated through medication if detected early which is done only in a very few cases and most of the cases are treated by removing through suction curettage, dilation and evacuation (D&C). This is treated by giving general anesthesia and no pain will be suffered during the process. Once the molar is removed there is no any requirement of further treatment and his has been true in 90% cases. After the removal there is a need of going for a follow up medical check up of ensuring the amount hCG level for ensuring that the molar is completely removed. If there is any imbalance then it can be a cause due to the presence of some amount of molar which will have to be evacuated. Pregnancy is to be avoided till one year after the removal for not recurring of it again and ensuring safety in further pregnancies.