Have you ever heard of molar pregnancy? This type of pregnancy is usually suffered by a certain number of pregnant women and is the result of abnormal fertilization of the ovum.
In today's post, We are going to explain what a molar pregnancy consists of, the types that can occur and the causes, we are going to solve all your doubts on this subject.
What is a molar pregnancy?
Molar pregnancy or also called hydatidiform mole or gallbladder mole, is the result of a genetic alteration that occurs at the time of fertilization of the ovum.
This case characterized by the growth of a mass inside the uterus, this mass is composed of trophoblasts. The placenta develops poorly, causing it to become a mass with fluid-filled cysts.
The causes that lead to this type of disorder are not known for sure., although it is known that there are risk factors such as the lack of certain nutrients or existing anomalies in the uterus.
Types of molar pregnancy
Can be given two different types of molar pregnancy; partial or complete. At this point we are going to point out the differences between them.
Total or complete molar pregnancy
This first type is the form in which it occurs most frequently. It occurs when the fertilization process occurs, but there is no embryo. That is, the sperm begins cell division and a placenta is created that grows and produces hormones, but the embryo does not exist.
Partial or incomplete molar pregnancy
In this case, the molar pregnancy has an etiology that can be caused in two ways. The first of them is that the fertilization of a single egg occurs with two normal sperm, or fertilization of the egg occurs with an altered and diploid sperm.
In partial molar pregnancy, an abnormal placenta develops and the embryo may have major defects. The karyotype of the embryo is triploid, that is, it has more chromosomes than normal, 69 when it should be 46.
As in the previous case, the embryo cannot develop normally, so it can lead to an abortion.
molar pregnancy symptoms
As in many other cases, a molar pregnancy may initially appear to be a normal pregnancy, but As a general rule, these cases generate specific signs and symptoms.
The first of them is a vaginal bleeding that is bright red or dark brown during the first three months of pregnancy. Another symptom is constant nausea and vomiting becoming severe.
In some cases, it may occur vaginal discharge of small cysts as well as pressure and pain in the pelvic floor. Other signs that may appear are hyperthyroidism, hypertension, excess salivation and brownish color.
Factors riesgo
It is estimated that 1 in 1000 pregnancies can be diagnosed as molars. We have already told you at the beginning that The specific causes that cause this type of pregnancy are not known, but some risk factors are.
The age of the mother would be the first of them, we refer to women over 35 and under 20, who are more likely to suffer a pregnancy that we are talking about.
A second risk factor is having suffered a previous molar pregnancy., since if it has been, it is more likely to repeat this process.
Two other factors that are considered risk factors are the thaving a history of miscarriage and following a low-protein diet, folic acid or carotenoids.
To diagnose this type of pregnancy, specialists will perform a pelvic exam where they can see if the uterus is larger or smaller and if there is also an increase in the ovaries. If there is a molar pregnancy, the ultrasound will show an abnormal placenta and whether or not a fetus is developing within it.
Living this experience is a hard road for couples looking to start a family. They face ignorance, various medical tests, concern for their baby, and not knowing if they will be able to get pregnant again.
It is important to have a lot of information on the subject, family and psychological support, as well as a body of specialists trained in the subject.