Molar pregnancy

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Molar pregnancy

A molar pregnancy is a mass of abnormal placental cell growth (hydatidiform mole) inside the uterus that triggers symptoms of pregnancy. A complete molar pregnancy is a tissue mass that can fill the uterus, while a partial molar pregnancy may include severely abnormal fetal tissue.

Symptoms of pregnancy are often intensified in a molar pregnancy. Morning sickness may be severe, the uterus may grow at a faster-than-normal rate, and blood pressure may be unusually high.

The cause of molar pregnancy is thought to be a genetic abnormality. Girls younger than 15 and women older than 40 are at highest risk. Women who have had a molar pregnancy in the past have a slightly increased risk of having another.

All molar growth must be removed from the uterus to prevent cancerous cell growth. After the tissue is suctioned out through the cervix and vagina (vacuum aspiration), the uterus is scraped of any remaining abnormal cells (curettage). Chemotherapy is used when abnormal tissue is or may become cancerous (trophoblastic cancer).

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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