Is Molar Pregnancy Dangerous?

Is Molar Pregnancy Dangerous?

Molar pregnancy is a type of benign tumor that develops within the uterus. It occurs when the placenta develops into a cluster of cysts instead of progressing normally to form a healthy pregnancy with normal placental tissue and a fetus.

In complete molar pregnancy, there is no healthy placental tissue or fetus at all. In partial, there is some healthy placental tissue along with abnormal fetal tissue, preventing the formation of a viable fetus.

Is Molar Pregnancy Dangerous?

Although molar pregnancy is a benign tumor, it can sometimes develop into a rare form of cancer, such as persistent gestational trophoblastic disease or choriocarcinoma, especially if left untreated. However, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can successfully manage most cases, significantly reducing the risk of cancer.

This pregnancy can also lead to the following complications:

• Hyperthyroidism.
• Dehydration due to severe vomiting.
• Preeclampsia is a serious condition characterized by significantly elevated blood pressure and increased protein in the urine, requiring urgent medical care.

Symptoms

Molar pregnancy may initially resemble a normal pregnancy. However, most cases of this pregnancy cause symptoms that may include:

• Bleeding that may range from dark brown to bright red during the first trimester.
• Severe nausea and vomiting.
• Pressure or pain in the pelvis.
• Occasionally, grape-like cysts may be expelled from the vagina.

When Does Molar Pregnancy Occur?

Molar pregnancy begins to develop at the fertilization stage, that is, from the onset of pregnancy, but it may initially appear as a normal pregnancy.

Therefore, it may not be detected during the first trimester, either due to a lack of clear symptoms or undetected abnormalities in early pregnancy tests. However, the most common time for diagnosis is between weeks 8 and 14 of pregnancy, during a routine ultrasound examination.

Treatment

Treatment for is essential to remove the abnormal tissue from the uterus. There are two main types of treatment:

Surgery

A dilation and curettage (D&C) is typically performed to treat this pregnancy. During this procedure, the doctor dilates the cervix with special instruments and then inserts a thin tube to suction out the abnormal tissue, usually under general anesthesia.

Medications

In some cases, certain medications may be used alongside the D&C to help remove this pregnancy.

Can You Get Pregnant Again?

Molar pregnancy does not affect the ability to conceive again; the chances of having a normal pregnancy after a molar pregnancy are very high. However, it is recommended to avoid pregnancy for up to three months in cases of partial molar pregnancy and up to six months in cases of complete, until hormone levels return to normal. It is always important to consult a doctor to determine the appropriate time to try for pregnancy again.

Is There a Risk of Recurrence?

The risk of experiencing another molar pregnancy in the next pregnancy is less than 1% if it occurred once. However, this risk increases to about 33% if there have been two consecutive molar pregnancies.

Therefore, it is crucial for women who have experienced molar pregnanc y to receive regular follow-up care after treatment to ensure their health.

References:

1. Molar pregnanc y. (n.d.). University of Michigan Sparrow. https://www.uofmhealthsparrow.org/departments-conditions/conditions/molar-pregnanc y
2. Molar pregnanc y. (n.d.-b). HSE.ie. https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/molar-pregnanc y/
3. Molar pregnanc y. (n.d.-c). https://www.singhealth.com.sg/patient-care/conditions-treatments/molar-pregnanc y