Molar Pregnancy

A molar pregnancy is also called gestational trophoblastic disease, or a hydatiform mole. It is a rare condition where a fertilized egg degenerates into a growth of abnormal placental tissue. The incidence of molar pregnancy is 1 in 1500-2000 pregnancies.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
There may be bleeding in the first trimester with a molar pregnancy. Your ovaries may be enlarged and your uterus may be larger than expected. You may have more vomiting than would be expected. Sometimes there is an increase in blood pressure along with protein in the urine. The diagnosis is made using ultrasound (a sonogram).

Treatment
A molar pregnancy is usually removed by a suction currettage. About 90% of women who have molar pregnancies removed require no further treatment.

Careful follow-up is very important, though. A blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) should be performed weekly until it has returned to negative, then monthly for 6 months to 1 year after the surgery. This is how we tell whether the removal of the molar pregnancy was successful.

You will be advised not to conceive for one year after a molar pregnancy. You should use a reliable form of birth control in the interim. The chances of having another molar pregnancy are approximately 1%.

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