A molar pregnancy or a hydatidiform mole, is a complication of pregnancy, in which the pregnancy ends in a loss. In a healthy pregnancy, baby is nourished in the uterus through the placenta, which grows inside the uterus.
In molar pregnancy, this placenta doesn’t develop, and instead there is a tumor or an abnormal mass of tissue. The trophoblasts are normally the cells that develop into placenta. Molar pregnancy generally occurs when there is a problem with the fertilized egg, such that the fetus and placenta do not develop normally after conception. A molar pregnancy is rare, with 1 in every 1000 pregnancies being molar, and for anyone with molar pregnancy, gynecologist in Lahore can offer the best support.
What Are The Types Of Molar Pregnancy?
There are two types of molar pregnancies:
Partial mole: is when there is some fetal tissue and some placental tissue; however, because the fetal tissue is incomplete, it can never develop into a baby. This condition is a consequence of having two sets of chromosomes from the father instead of one (as when two sperms enter one cell), and another from the mother. There are therefore, 69 chromosomes instead of 46.
Complete mole; is when there is no fetus, but only some placental tissue in the uterus. A complete mole occurs when the mother’s eggs are not working or lost. Hence, the one set of chromosomes from the father are copied ensuring that all 46 chromosomes in the baby come from the father. This is not viable for the baby and the pregnancy results in a loss.
Risk Factors For Molar Pregnancy
Chances of molar pregnancy are higher in women younger than 20 years who become pregnant, or those who are older than 35. The chances of molar pregnancy are also higher if you have had molar pregnancy before, or you have had multiple miscarriages before.
How To Find You Have A Molar Pregnancy?
You may find that you have a molar pregnancy on the first ultrasound that is done around 8 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Some couples find about molar pregnancies upon a miscarriage. This can be a difficult time for the mother and she will need a lot of support to get through this time.
Other symptoms of molar pregnancy include:
Bleeding can occur especially in the first trimester, i.e. dark brown or bright red in color, and may include grape-like cysts or clots. Bleeding is seen more often in complete molar pregnancy, in comparison to partial mole.
Severe nausea and vomiting is seen with molar pregnancy, that is often much more than a regular pregnancy. The reason for this could be the higher than normal beta hCG.
High levels of beta hCG, in comparison to normal pregnancy are seen because there is more placental tissue in a molar pregnancy. The hormone hCG is produced by the placenta, and therefore, its levels are higher subsequently.
If you are having suspicious signs like increased pelvic pressure, vaginal bleeding and severe nausea and vomiting, do go to the top Gynecologist in Lahore to rule out molar pregnancy.