Molar pregnancy is often associated with nightmares and painful experiences for married couples. This is because a positive pregnancy test does not end with the birth of a baby. This pregnancy imperfection, called a molar pregnancy, is one of those pregnancies that are hard to maintain.
This type of pregnancy is rare; if you experience it, there are ways to deal with it through medical action. It is also necessary to get support from people around. So, what exactly is a molar pregnancy? What causes it, and what are the symptoms? Let's study together through this article, ladies.
Molar Pregnancy Definition
Molar pregnancy has a medical term: molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole, an abnormal pregnancy condition that occurs when a sperm fails to fertilize an egg properly. Usually, a molar pregnancy looks like a small bag filled with water. The small bags are clustered together to resemble bunches of grapes. That is why a molar pregnancy is called a "grape pregnancy."
These conditions can result in the appearance of tumors that are not cancerous. Because of this, the tumor that appears does not support the embryo's development, so the pregnancy is not successful. Eventually, the woman will miscarry; if she doesn't, surgery will be required to remove the imperfect embryo.
Molar pregnancy is part of the gestational trophoblast, where a tumor grows in the uterus. Molar pregnancies can be divided into two categories, namely:
1. Complete molar pregnancy
The embryo cannot grow if a sperm fertilizes an empty egg. This leads to the growth of abnormal placental tissue containing fluid-filled cysts. The tissue still produces the pregnancy hormones usually made by a healthy placenta. Unfortunately, the pregnancy test gives a positive result, and the mother feels pregnant, even though no embryo is growing.
2. Partial molar pregnancy
Partial molar pregnancy is when a successfully fertilized egg cannot develop properly or even grow. In this case, the abnormal placenta forms along with the embryo. While it can still develop, it usually doesn't last long. Usually, partial molar pregnancies are caused by a genetic accident.
There are two types of molar pregnancies, namely full and partial.
Molar Pregnancy Symptoms
A molar pregnancy feels normal at first, but it doesn't work out in the end. Mothers may not feel any significant signs when pregnancy begins, but over time, they may also feel symptoms similar to other health problems. Here are some of them:
- Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester
- Bleeding, and the blood is brown and runny.
- Vaginal discharge that looks like a bunch of grapes
- Nausea and vomiting with a frequency more common than in a normal pregnancy
- Unbearable pain in the pelvic area
- The uterus is growing too fast.
- Preeclampsia (high blood pressure and proteinuria) even before 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Cyst
- Hyperthyroidism
- Anemia
Causes of molar pregnancy
Molar pregnancies are caused by a genetic condition that occurs when a sperm tries to fertilize an egg. During a normal pregnancy, the embryo has a set of 23 pairs of chromosomes (one from the father and one from the mother). Chromosomes give signals to the body to work. However, when a molar pregnancy occurs, the chromosomes present are out of balance, so the embryo cannot survive.
Molar pregnancy risk factors
Some people are more susceptible to molar pregnancy if they are younger than 20 or older than 35, have a history of molar pregnancies or miscarriages, and are infertile. According to the NHS, molar pregnancies are at risk for Asian ethnicities. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent it. If you have a history of pregnancies with molars, it is advisable to postpone the pregnancy until the following year.
Getting pregnant too young can cause a molar pregnancy.
Those are some facts related to molar pregnancy that you should know. Molar pregnancies can be very painful for a woman as they happen out of control. If you want to know more or have any concerns about this condition, consult a doctor immediately, you can use the services of Fitie, ladies.
References:
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Molar Pregnancy. [Online] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17889-molar-pregnancy
Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Partial Molar Pregnancy. [Online] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12332-partial-molar-pregnancy
Mayoclinic. (2022). Overview: Molar pregnancy. [Online] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/molar-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375175
WebMD. (2022). What is a Molar Pregnancy?. [Online] https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-molar-pregnancy#091e9c5e814f9113-1-4