Molar Pregnancy

Several problems could occur during pregnancy, and in the case of molar pregnancy, there is a defect since the start of the fertilization between the sperm and the egg, which leads to the pregnancy occurring incorrectly.

Molar pregnancy

Molar pregnancy occurs when fertilization between the sperm and the egg occurs incorrectly, and that creates a noncancerous tumor, which manifests as tiny water-filled cysts in the form of a cluster. Molar pregnancy might be complete or partial.

Complete molar pregnancy

In a complete molar pregnancy, there isn’t an embryo at all because the egg is empty when it’s fertilized. Also, the placental tissue grows abnormally in the form of fluid-filled tumors or cysts. This pregnancy causes the production of the pregnancy hormone (HCG), which gives a false positive pregnancy test.

Partial molar pregnancy

Partial molar pregnancy occurs when abnormal placental tissue forms along with an embryo and also when two sperms together fertilize the egg, and in general, this pregnancy can’t progress.

Causes and risk factors leading to molar pregnancy

• Genetic errors during fertilization.
• The mother’s age is younger than 20 or older than 40 years old.
• Previous cases of molar pregnancy.
• Two or more previous miscarriages.
• Asian descent.

Symptoms of molar pregnancy

• Dark or light vaginal bleeding.
• Severe nausea and vomiting.
• Pelvic pain or pressure.
• Grape-like cysts coming out of the vagina.
• Severe high blood pressure.
• Abnormally high pregnancy hormone (HCG).
• Anemia.

Complications of molar pregnancy

• Sepsis.
• Urinary infections.
• Persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
• Shock due to severe low blood pressure.

Diagnosis of molar pregnancy

• Imaging tests.
• Blood tests.

Treatment of molar pregnancy

• The only treatment for molar pregnancy is to remove the tumor and all the abnormal tissue completely through dilation and curettage (D&C).
• In some rare cases, hysterectomy might be performed.