| Hydatidiform mole is also called molar pregnancy. | | | | (hCG) is ordered along with a sonogram. The hCG |
| This is a rare complication, occuring in | | | | levels will be unusually high in the presence of a |
| approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnancies in the United | | | | molar pregnancy. Ultrasound identifies the |
| States and Europe. It is more frequent in parts of | | | | characteristic grapelike mass quite accurately. |
| Asia. In this condition, the chorionic villi of | | | | The treatment for hydatidiform mole is |
| pregnancy are converted into a mass of grapelike | | | | termination of the pregnancy. As this is a |
| cysts. In a complete mole, there is no embryonic | | | | pregnancy loss, consider seeking support and |
| or fetal tissue. In a partial mole, there will be fetal | | | | counseling. Although hydatidiform mole is not a |
| tissue. On an extremely rare occasion, a twin | | | | life-threatening condition, in about 20 percent of |
| pregnancy may result in one viable fetus and one | | | | cases it can progress to a malignant tumor. This is |
| mole. Such pregnancies have gone to term with | | | | called a gestational trophoblastic tumor. One type |
| the birth of a normal baby, but this is | | | | of tumor is a rapidly growing malignancy called |
| extraordinarily rare. | | | | choriocarcinoma. |
| Hydatidiform mole is most frequent in women at | | | | All women with a molar pregnancy should be |
| either end of the childbearing years young | | | | evaluated after the pregnancy for evidence of a |
| adolescents and women over the age of 45. | | | | gestational trophoblastic tumor. The followup visit |
| There is a ten times higher chance of having a | | | | consists of measuring hCG levels in the blood at |
| molar pregnancy if you get pregnant at age 45 | | | | frequent intervals until they return to normal. |
| than there is if you get pregnant at a younger | | | | Right after termination, hCG is measured at |
| age. Molar pregnancies have been seen in women | | | | 2-week intervals. Once the levels are |
| at the age of 50, whereas a normal pregnancy at | | | | undetectable, which usually occurs within 3 |
| that age is practically unknown, except with as | | | | months, they can be measured every month for |
| sisted reproductive technologies. Molar pregnancy | | | | 6 months and then every other month for a |
| recurs about 1 to 2 percent of the time. | | | | complete year. Pregnancy should be avoided until |
| Signs of a molar pregnancy include persistent | | | | at least a year has elapsed without elevated hCG |
| nausea and vomiting, bleeding occurring at about | | | | in blood. If the hCG levels do not regress, or if |
| the twelfth week of pregnancy or earlier, a | | | | they rise after the molar pregnancy has been |
| uterus larger than expected for the dates of the | | | | terminated, then further treatment is required. |
| pregnancy, and absence of a fetal heartbeat or | | | | Signs of disease spread should be looked for. A |
| fetal activity, even though the uterine size | | | | chest X ray is done, for example. If further |
| suggests that the fetal heart should be heard and | | | | childbearing is not desired, treatment may consist |
| the woman should feel movement. A | | | | of a hysterectomy. If the woman wishes to |
| characteristic sign of a molar pregnancy is the | | | | preserve her reproductive capability, then |
| development of pregnancy induced hypertension | | | | chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. |
| or preeclampsia in the first half of pregnancy. This | | | | Chemotherapy may be needed following |
| is ordinarily a condition of the second half of | | | | hysterectomy if the disease has spread. |
| pregnancy, usually not occurring before 24 weeks | | | | Whenever possible, gestational trophoblastic |
| gestation. | | | | tumors should be treated by specialists |
| When a woman presents with these symptoms, | | | | experienced in their care. |
| a blood test for human chorionic gonadotropin | | | | |