In this article
- what is that
- symptoms
- how to diagnose
- how to intervene
Vesicular or hydatiform mola, what it is
La vesicular or hydatiform mola it is an abnormal mass of cells that can grow inside the uterus in early pregnancy. In practice it is an anomalous product of conception, characterized by pathological proliferation of the trophoblast, the tissue that forms the outline of the placenta. In this condition the chorionic villi are altered and transformed into cysts, that is vesicles (hence the name of the disease). There molar pregnancy could be:
- Assessment, if no fetus develops;
- incomplete, if an abnormal fetus begins to develop but cannot survive anyway.
Frequency
The vesicular mola is one rare condition, which affects one pregnancy every 1000-1500. Molar pregnancy is more common for women over 40 and under 20, i.e. at the extremes of reproductive age.
Read also: Mom at 40? Here's everything you NEED to knowMolar pregnancy, symptoms
Symptoms of vesicular or hydatiform mola
There are no specific symptoms of this condition, which sometimes presents itself in a completely symptomatic way. Among the symptoms that can occur - and which can also be found in normal pregnancies - are:
- vaginal bleeding or dark red vaginal discharge
- intense nausea or hyperemesis
- particularly swollen abdomen
- hypertension
- hyperthyroidism
How is the diagnosis made
Transvaginal ultrasound examination and beta-hCG measurement are essential for diagnosis. In the presence of a vesicular mola, the beta-hCG values are higher than normal.
How we intervene
The treatment involves the emptying of the uterine cavity from the molar material, on which it is necessary to perform histological examination.
Subsequent checks
After a molar pregnancy, it is essential to carry out serial sampling of beta-hCG, to promptly diagnose any persistence of the degenerated tissue in the uterus. If the beta value gradually decreases until it returns to normal (which happens in most cases), no further treatment is required.
Sources for this article
- Hydatidiform mole, Medline Plus article
- Coriocarcinoma, article by the AIRC Foundation
- Hydatidiform Mole, article by Emedicine
- Molar pregnancy, NHS article
Questions and answers
Can the vesicular mola return?
Yes, it can also occur in a later pregnancy. If there has been a molar pregnancy before, the risk of a molar pregnancy in a new pregnancy is higher.
How long after a molar pregnancy can you think about a new pregnancy?
Doctors recommend waiting around 6-12 months.
TAG:
- vesicular or hydatiform mola
- vesicular mola
- disorders related to pregnancy
- dictionary of pregnancy
