whats a molar pregnancy

A molar pregnancy occurs when an egg and sperm join incorrectly at fertilization and a noncancerous tumor forms instead of a healthy placenta. The tumor, or mole, cannot support a developing embryo, and the pregnancy ends. It is also called a hydatidiform mole.

Is a molar pregnancy a miscarriage?

A molar pregnancy will not be able to survive. It may end on its own, with a miscarriage. If this does not happen, it’s usually treated with a procedure to remove the pregnancy.

Has a baby survived a molar pregnancy?

The incidence of a normal live fetus and a partial molar placenta is extremely rare. Although triploidy is the most frequent association, a fetus with normal karyotype can survive in cases of partial molar pregnancy.

How do you detect a molar pregnancy?

If your doctor suspects a molar pregnancy, he or she will order blood tests, including one to measure the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) — a pregnancy hormone — in your blood. He or she will also recommend an ultrasound.

How soon after a molar pregnancy can you get pregnant?

The risk of having another molar pregnancy is small (about 1 in 80). It’s best not to try getting pregnant again until all your follow-up treatment has finished. For most women, this will take about 6 months. If you have GTN, you will need to wait for 12 months after you have finished chemotherapy treatment.

Will a pregnancy test be positive with a molar pregnancy?

Women with a molar pregnancy will have a positive pregnancy test and the same early symptoms of a normal pregnancy. In the absence of medical intervention or diagnosis, the pregnancy might seem normal for the first three to four months.

Who is at risk for molar pregnancy?

Complete molar pregnancies are more common in mothers over the age of 45. There is a moderate increased risk for young teenagers. Age doesn’t affect the risk of partial molar pregnancies.

Does molar pregnancy cause infertility?

A: Yes, a molar pregnancy will not normally cause infertility or lead to complications with future pregnancies. The chances of another molar pregnancy is increased, but is still only around 1-2 percent.

Is a partial molar pregnancy rare?

Partial molar pregnancy with a live fetus is a very rare condition, occurring in 0.005 to 0.01% of all pregnancies; it presents a challenging diagnosis, especially when clinical signs are almost completely absent.

Can you see a molar pregnancy at 6 weeks?

An ultrasound can detect a complete molar pregnancy as early as eight or nine weeks of pregnancy.

How long does it take for hCG levels to go down after molar pregnancy?

If the levels of a hormone called hCG go back to normal soon after removal of the molar pregnancy then your doctor won’t need to give it a stage. In most women, the hCG level virtually disappears within 4 to 6 weeks of removing the molar pregnancy.