Molar pregnancy, also known as spring pregnancy or hydatidiforme, is a rare condition that occurs during pregnancy due to changes in the uterus, caused by the multiplication of abnormal cells in the placenta.
This condition may be partial or complete, depending on the size of the abnormal tissue in the uterus and does not have a specific cause, but it can occur mainly due to the fertilization of two sperm in the same egg, so the fetus only has cells from the parent.
- Abnormal tissue that develops in the uterus resembles grape clusters and causes a malformation in the placenta and fetus.
- Causing a miscarriage and.
- In rare cases.
- Cells in this tissue spread and lead to the development of a type of cancer.
- Called gestational choriocarcinoma.
Symptoms of a molar pregnancy may be similar to those of a normal pregnancy, such as a menstrual delay, but after the sixth week of pregnancy, there may be:
After some tests, the obstetrician may also notice other symptoms of molar pregnancy, such as anemia, excessive increase in thyroid hormones and beta-HCG, cysts in the ovaries, slow fetal development, and preeclampsia. Learn more about preeclampsia and how to identify it.
The causes of molar pregnancy are not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be due to genetic changes that occur when the egg is fertilized by two sperm at the same time or when an imperfect sperm is fertilized into a healthy egg.
Molar pregnancy is a rare disease, it can happen to any woman, however, it is a more common alteration in women under 20 years of age or over 35 years of age.
The diagnosis of molar pregnancy is made by performing a transvaginal ultrasound, since a normal ultrasound is not always able to identify the change in the uterus, and this condition is usually diagnosed between the sixth and ninth weeks of gestation.
In addition, the obstetrician will also recommend blood tests to evaluate levels of the hormone Beta-HCG, which in these cases are in very large amounts and if you suspect other diseases, may recommend other tests such as urine, CT scans. or MRI.
Treatment of molar pregnancy is based on a procedure called curettage, which involves sucking inside the uterus to remove abnormal tissue. In rarer cases, even after grading, abnormal cells may remain in the uterus and lead to a type of cancer, called gestational choriocarcinoma, and in these situations surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy may be necessary.
In addition, if your doctor finds that the woman’s blood group is negative, she may indicate the application of a drug called matergam so that specific antibodies do not develop, thus avoiding complications when the woman becomes pregnant again, such as fetal erythroblastosis, for example. Learn more about fetal erythroblastosis and how treatment is performed.