Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, care@sunmedhospital.com
Molar Pregnancy Treatment
A molar pregnancy is a rare but serious complication that occurs during early pregnancy. It happens when the tissue that would normally become the placenta instead forms abnormal growths. These growths may look like a cluster of grapes and can cause complications for both the mother and the baby, as there is usually no healthy fetal development.
At SunMed Hospital, we provide expert care for women experiencing molar pregnancies. Our experienced medical team offers comprehensive diagnosis, treatment options, and follow-up care, ensuring the well-being of the mother and future pregnancies. Our advanced facilities and compassionate approach guide you through each step with the utmost care and attention.
In a typical pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants in the uterus and develops into an embryo, which grows into a baby. In a molar pregnancy, the cells in the placenta grow abnormally instead of forming a normal embryo. This leads to the formation of a mass of cysts. There are two types of molar pregnancy:
Complete Molar Pregnancy: No normal placenta or embryo forms in this case. Only abnormal tissue grows.Partial Molar Pregnancy: Here, some normal fetal tissue forms alongside the abnormal tissue. However, the fetus will not survive, and the pregnancy will not develop properly.The symptoms of a molar pregnancy can be quite similar to those of a normal early pregnancy, but a few distinctive signs could indicate a molar pregnancy. These include:
Vaginal bleeding: This is the most common symptom and can be heavier than a normal period.Severe nausea and vomiting: Often more severe than in a normal pregnancy.Rapidly enlarging uterus: The uterus may grow more quickly than expected for the gestational age.High blood pressure: Gestational hypertension may develop. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, typically seen after the 20th week of pregnancy.Absence of fetal movement: There is typically no heartbeat or fetal movement, as the pregnancy is non-viable.Hyperthyroidism symptoms: In some cases, molar pregnancies can affect thyroid hormone levels, leading to symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, or weight loss.Molar pregnancies occur due to genetic abnormalities that happen during fertilization. Normally, in a typical pregnancy, the embryo receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, producing 46 chromosomes. These chromosomes carry the genetic information that guides the body's functions. In a molar pregnancy, there is a chromosomal imbalance. In a complete molar pregnancy, the egg has no chromosomes, and the embryo receives 23 chromosomes from the sperm. In a partial molar pregnancy, two sperm fertilize the egg, resulting in an embryo with 69 chromosomes. This genetic error prevents the pregnancy from progressing successfully.
To diagnose a molar pregnancy, healthcare providers typically use a combination of the following:
Ultrasound: A key diagnostic tool that can reveal the characteristic appearance of a molar pregnancy, including a cluster of cyst-like masses or the absence of a fetus.Blood tests: High levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy, are often seen in molar pregnancies.Pelvic exam: In some cases, the doctor may feel for an unusually large uterus.If a molar pregnancy is suspected, further tests will be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment for a molar pregnancy is essential to prevent complications. Since the pregnancy is non-viable, the abnormal tissue needs to be removed. Treatment typically involves:
Dilation and Curettage (D&C): This is a procedure in which the doctor removes the abnormal tissue from the uterus. It is the most common treatment for a molar pregnancy.Follow-up care: After the D&C, the patient will need regular blood tests to ensure that hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels return to normal. In rare cases, if the tissue grows back or if cancerous cells are present, further treatment such as chemotherapy may be needed.Hysterectomy: In some rare cases where the molar pregnancy is diagnosed late or if there are complications, removal of the uterus may be necessary.Currently, there are no known ways to completely prevent a molar pregnancy. However, women who have had one molar pregnancy are often advised to wait for a certain period (usually about a year) before trying to conceive again. This waiting period helps ensure that any abnormal tissue has been cleared from the body and reduces the risk of recurrence.
A molar pregnancy, while rare, can be a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. While it is not always preventable, understanding the symptoms and seeking early diagnosis can help manage the condition effectively. Women who have experienced a molar pregnancy are monitored closely in subsequent pregnancies to ensure their health and safety.
The treatment of choice is the surgical removal of the molar tissue through a procedure called suction curettage. This ensures the removal of the abnormal growth and helps prevent complications.
The protocol involves the surgical evacuation of the molar tissue, followed by regular monitoring of hCG levels to confirm that the abnormal tissue is completely removed and no further complications occur.
If there is persistent trophoblastic disease after surgery, chemotherapy drugs like methotrexate or actinomycin D are used to treat any remaining abnormal tissue.
No, surgical intervention is necessary to remove the molar tissue. Non-surgical treatments are not effective in completely removing the abnormal growth.
Molar pregnancies occur due to genetic abnormalities during fertilization, leading to an imbalance in the chromosomes of the developing embryo.
The risks include heavy bleeding, infection, and the possibility of developing persistent trophoblastic disease, which may require chemotherapy and careful follow-up.
A molar pregnancy might not be immediately visible at 5 weeks, but an ultrasound may reveal signs like abnormal growth or the absence of a normal fetal heartbeat at this stage.
hCG levels in a molar pregnancy are typically elevated much higher than expected for the gestational age, which is a key indicator for diagnosis and monitoring of the condition.
