Molar pregnancy, what is it? – MAPFRE Blogs

Molar pregnancy is a pregnancy disorder caused by abnormal development of the placenta. It requires early diagnosis, aspiration curettage and hormonal monitoring to avoid complications.

Molar pregnancy, or hydatidiform moleis part of a group of diseases due to abnormal development of the placenta and they are non-viable pregnancies.

The origin is an anomaly in fertilization:

• You can try an egg that has been fertilized by two sperma case that we call a partial mole, in which there is a non-viable embryo because it has 69 chromosomes instead of 46, which is the normal set, in addition to placental anomalies. These are embryos that do not usually survive the first trimester and end as spontaneous abortions.
• The other type is the complete coolin which an empty egg is fertilized by one sperm (or rarely two), in this case there is no embryo, only abnormal placental tissue. It affects about 3 in every 1,000 pregnancies. It is more common in women who have already had a previous mole and in pregnant women over 40 years old or under 20 years old and in cases of nutritional deficiencies with diets poor in protein, folic acid or carotenes. And with less scientific evidence it has been described that pregnant women with blood group A or AB may be at greater risk of suffering from it.

Why does it happen?

The abnormalities of this tissue lie in the fact that they grow uncontrollablythe vessels that nourish it are not functional and the structures that should form the placenta fill with fluid, turning into transparent vesicles that resemble bunches of grapes. This tissue produces very high levels of the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin), responsible for severe symptoms of nausea and vomiting and the appearance of cysts in the ovaries.

In a low percentage of cases this tissue can invade the wall of the uterus, becoming a malignant pathology, choriocarcinoma in 5% of cases, especially the complete type.

What symptoms does it produce?

Many times there are no symptoms, especially partial moles, and they are diagnosed ultrasonographically when larger, abnormal-looking placental tissue is identified. When they do present symptoms, they are usually first trimester vaginal bleeding, and the nausea and vomiting described above, which are secondary to an excess of the pregnancy hormone typical of complete moles.

Gathering all the information discussed above we can distinguish between:

• Partial mole: with a chromosomally abnormal embryo, moderate alterations of the placental tissue, which usually end in abortion, with a normal uterine size and a low frequency of ovarian cysts. Pregnancy hormone levels are rarely very high so they have a low rate of medical complications and malignancy.
• Complete mola: without an embryo, with important alterations of the placental tissue with the presence of grape-shaped vesicles that make the uterine size greater than expected for the gestational age, very high values ​​of pregnancy hormone and a higher incidence of ovarian cysts and medical complications and a potential for malignancy between 15 and 20%.

How is it treated?

The treatment consists of evacuate that abnormal tissue through a surgical procedure called aspiration curettage. Under sedation, a cannula is introduced into the uterine cavity which, connected to a vacuum inlet, sucks up all that material until the cavity is left empty. The diagnostic confirmation will be offered by the pathological anatomy laboratory when analyzing the extracted remains.

Subsequently, they are made serial checks of pregnancy hormone levels and a new pregnancy is not recommended in the following six months, until we have made sure that the hormone levels do not rise again.

In conclusion, molar pregnancy, although rare, represents a medical condition requiring early diagnosisadequate treatment and rigorous follow-up. Thanks to advances in imaging and hormonal control, today it is possible to detect and manage this pathology with excellent results. In MAPFRE Health Insurance you will find great specialists who will help you in all phases of the process. Informing, accompanying and demystifying this type of pregnancy is key to providing peace of mind to patients and promoting their physical and emotional recovery, as well as their future reproductive health.

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What you should know…

• Molar pregnancy is a non-viable alteration of pregnancy caused by abnormal development of the placenta, and whose consequences can be serious and, in some cases, evolve into a malignant disease (such as choriocarcinoma).
• Treatment consists of aspiration curettage and rigorous hormonal monitoring. It is essential to avoid a new pregnancy for at least six months, and to carry out controls to ensure that hormonal levels do not indicate persistence or malignancy.
• Early diagnosis and adequate care ensure a good physical and emotional recovery for the patient.