Molar pregnancy - does anyone know anything about it?

[Detta]

My friend's pregnancy has sadly ended at 10 weeks, due to it being a molar pregnancy. I've never heard of it, so does anyone know what's involved please? I'd like to be well informed, but don't like to ask DF too many questions. thanks.

There are two types of molar pregnancy, complete and partial. Complete molar pregnancies have only placental parts (there is no baby), and form when the sperm fertilizes an empty egg. Because the egg is empty, no baby is formed. The placenta grows and produces the pregnancy hormone, called HCG, so the patient thinks she is pregnant. an ultrasound will show that there is no baby, only placenta. A partial mole occurs when 2 sperm fertilize an egg. Instead of forming twins, something goes wrong, leading to a pregnancy with an abnormal fetus and an abnormal placenta. The baby has too many chromosomes and almost always dies in the uterus. Thus, molar pregnancies are “accidents of nature” that are not anyone’s fault

they also put the mother a slight risk of dveloping cancer so she will be followed up closely. there are a few mums on the conception threa who have had them. very orry for your friend loss

Dear Detta,
I found this by googling molar pregnancy. A colleague of mine had one many years ago and has gone on to have 2 healthy daughters. Hope your friend will be okay.

A molar pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that is a type of gestational trophoblastic disease. It can refer to either a complete or a partial mole. Throughout the United States and Europe the incidence is about 1/1000 and 1/2000 pregnancies. Although it is much more common in areas such as Southeast Asia and Mexico.

We still do not know exactly why a molar pregnancy occurs. It is believed to be a nutritional deficit like protein or carotene. It can also be caused by a ovular (ovulation) defect.

Complete Mole
This occurs when the nucleus of an egg is either lost or inactivated. The sperm then duplicates itself because the egg was lacking genetic information. Usually there is no fetus, no placenta, no fluid and no amniotic membranes.

The uterus is rather filled with the mole that resembles a bunch of grapes.

The fluid filled vesicles grow rapidly, which can make the uterus seem larger than it should be for gestational age. Because there is no placenta to receive the blood typically you will see bleeding into the uterine cavity or vaginal bleeding.

Partial Mole
This most frequently occurs when two sperm fertilize the same egg. There may be partial placentas, membranes or even a fetus present in a partial mole. However, there are usually genetic problems with the baby. Rarely, a partial mole will exist with twin pregnancy, however, the other twin rarely survives.

Symptoms
Symptoms include:

Increased nausea and vomiting
Vaginal bleeding
Increased hCG levels
Rapidly growing uterus
Pregnancy induced hypertension prior to 24 weeks
No fetal movement or heart tone detected
Hyperthyroidism
Pulmonary Embolization

Diagnosis
Most of the time a molar pregnancy will spontaneously end. When the woman passes tissues that appear to be grape like and shows them to her practitioner then a molar pregnancy is suspected.

Thanks, that's all very helpful. She's still feeling dreadful poor thing, as the termination she had to have wasn't a success and had to be repeated. . Nice to know that it doesn't necessarily affect subsequent pregnancies. Am keeping my fingers crossed.

i just clicked on this thread out of curiosity and i feel so sorry for you friend. I wish her well and hope she goes on to have a happy and healthy family. hugs x

I had a complete molar pregnancy in 2002.

It is quite a distressing experience as you have to deal with the loss of a pregnancy, an operation to dispose of the mole and then follow up to ensure that the mole does not lead to cancer.

The most difficult thing though, is that you are strongly advised not to get pregnant during the follow up period (6months -2 years) as the hormone changes with pregnancy can activate the mole again putting you at increased risk of the mole turning cancerous.

So unlike most lost pregnancies, you have a long period before you can try again!

Anyway, this website was very good - there was a message board linked to it, but that seems to have gone. Still some good information on it anyway!

\link{http://www.hmole-chorio.org.uk/\description}

I do know someone in whom the mole became cancerous (probably not something to tell your friend), but fortunately it is quite a treatable cancer (I know it's all relative) and after what they called 'mild' chemotherapy she has made a full recovery and is now pregnant again.

I had this in 2003, was very distressing as I didn't find out till almost 3 months after having a d&c, mine was a partial mole pregnancy, there is an official website for it and also a forum but it didn't work (its the link that soapbox has put down) maybe it works now, I felt very isolated with no one to talk to and we were unable to try for children for a year which was even more distressing along with the sending away a urine sample every week, has your friend said how long she has to wait I know its 2 years for a full molar pregnancy, I count myself lucky that mine was partial, when my follow up ended in sept 2004 we tried and fell pregnant straight away and we now have a beautiful 8mth little girl, there is light at then of the tunnel tho I know she probably won't feel that way at the moment, my heart goes out to your friend

Thanks Shelly nice to know you've got your beautiful baby! Yes, my friend has to wait forher hormone levels to get back to normal, and then wait for 6 months before trying again. As she's 38 she's very aware that time is ticking away. I feel so sorry for her - all her friends seem to have completed their families (myself included) so it must be dreadful. Life is just very unfair sometimes. Thanks everyone for your information. Will pass on the website details to her, as I'm sure it must help to hear other people's success stories.