Molar Pregnancy: Causes, Types, Treatment & Recovery
Molar pregnancy is a rare kind of complication that occurs during certain pregnancies. Molar pregnancy takes place when there is unusual cell growth called trophoblasts. These cells become the organ that feeds a growing foetus. In another term, this particular organ is known as the placenta. It is crucial to understand this condition as it may impact future pregnancies and require certain medical management. This comprehensive guide will discuss all you need to know about molar pregnancies, including types, causes, symptoms, treatment and considerations for future generations.
Understanding Molar Pregnancy
A molar pregnancy occurs due to problems which take place when a sperm fertilises an egg. Typically, the placenta is meant to nourish the embryo. However, a molar pregnancy occurs when the tissue that is meant to develop into the placenta grows abnormally, forming a mass of cysts. There are two types of molar pregnancies, namely partial molar pregnancy and complete molar pregnancy.
Types of Molar Pregnancy
Molar pregnancy can be divided into two parts as listed below:
Partial Molar Pregnancy: A partial molar pregnancy is the result of an egg being fertilised by two sperm, leading to an abnormal embryo with too many chromosomes. In a partial molar pregnancy, there is an abnormal placenta. In certain cases, the embryo in question has extra chromosomes. The embryo may develop to an extent but is unable to survive.
Complete Molar Pregnancy: In a complete molar pregnancy, an empty egg is fertilised by a sperm. Since the egg is empty, it is unable to grow. Although the placental tissue develops, it is abnormal and contains fluid-filled cysts. This tissue produces the pregnancy hormone HCG. This hormone is primarily responsible for making a healthy placenta during pregnancy. This can make you feel pregnant and even give you a positive pregnancy test. Complete molar pregnancies are characterised by excessive abnormal placental tissues compared to partial ones.
Molar Pregnancy Reasons
Molar pregnancy reasons entail an egg getting fertilised in an atypical manner. Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes. In a typical fertilisation, one chromosome in each pair comes from the father and the other from the mother. However, in a complete molar pregnancy, one or two sperm fertilise an egg. The chromosomes from the mother’s egg are either missing or don’t happen to work. Meanwhile, the father’s chromosomes are copies, and there are no chromosomes from the mother.
Moreover, talking about molar pregnancy reasons, in a partial molar pregnancy, the mother’s chromosomes are present. However, the father gives two sets of chromosomes. This causes the embryos to have 69 chromosomes instead of 46. This occurs when two sperm fertilise a single egg. This, in turn, results in an extra copy of the father’s genes. This genetic error results in a failed pregnancy known as molar pregnancy.
Symptoms and Early Detection
The genetic mistakes that take place during fertilisation of an egg by a sperm result in a molar pregnancy. Molar pregnancy comes with certain symptoms and includes those listed below:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding in the initial three months
- Preeclampsia
- Grape-like cysts exiting your vagina
- Anaemia
- Abnormally high levels of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
- Abdominal swelling
The symptoms of molar pregnancy are rather similar to numerous other conditions. If you have any unusual symptoms, then you must reach out to your doctor. ]
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Molar Pregnancy Treatment
The diagnosis of a molar pregnancy requires prompt treatment. It is essential to remove the abnormal tissue and prevent complications. The standard molar pregnancy treatment involves a surgical procedure that is known as dilation and curettage (D&C). This particular procedure uses suction to remove all abnormal tissue from your uterus. Your doctor will give you general anaesthesia to numb the pain during the surgery.
In certain cases, medication can assist with contracting and expelling the contents of your uterus in place of surgery. Follow up with a medical professional to make sure all the abnormal cells are removed. There is a rare chance that you might require a hysterectomy when it comes to treating molar pregnancy.
Follow-up care is crucial after the initial treatment to ensure that all abnormal cells are removed. Therefore, regular monitoring of hCG levels is necessary even after the molar tissue is removed.
If hCG levels do not return to normal or if they increase, further treatment may be required, as it could cause serious health complications.
Future Pregnancies and Considerations
People who receive treatment for molar pregnancy do not have further complications. It does not increase your chances of a miscarriage. If you are wondering after molar pregnancy how long to wait, then you need to wait at least six months before trying to conceive again. Furthermore, you can talk to your healthcare provider about when it is safe to commence trying to conceive.
To sum it all up, a molar pregnancy is a rare occurrence, but not something to be ignored. Understanding the difference between a partial molar pregnancy and a complete molar pregnancy and recognising the molar pregnancy reasons, and knowing the symptoms and appropriate molar pregnancy treatment is imperative if you want to manage this condition. With proper medical care and support, you can take this challenge head-on if you are ever affected by it.
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