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What Is a Molar Pregnancy?
Just the Facts
By Carol Sjostrom Miller
"[Molar pregnancy] is caused by genetic problems that occur when the sperm and egg come together," says Dr. Stotland, who adds that it is not clear why this abnormal fertilization takes place. And although molar pregnancies are slightly more common in women older than 40, there are no real risk factors, according to Dr. John Repke, professor and chairman of the department of OB/GYN at Nebraska Health System and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
As Hiltbrand experienced, most molar pregnancies cause symptoms that alert the woman and her doctor that something is wrong. "The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding in the first or second trimester," says Dr. 
Stotland. Other symptoms may include extreme nausea, excessive vomiting and high blood pressure. The uterus also may be larger than expected for the stage of pregnancy, because of the large and swollen placenta, although this isn't something a woman will notice on her own; it is generally discovered by the doctor during a medical examination.
If the doctor suspects a molar pregnancy, an ultrasound will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. "The ultrasound will show the absence of a fetus, and a placenta that has a snowstorm appearance," notes Dr. Repke. A blood test to measure the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone, is also important. "In complete molar pregnancies, the hCG level may e much higher than normal," says Dr. Stotland.
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Re: What Is a Molar Pregnancy? by miranda on 11/14/2008 12:56AM
I had a molar pregnant about five years ago. Was devastating. But it didn't help that I hadn't even heard of a molar pregnancy before. Thank you for educating other woman about it. You can never know too much before, during and after pregnancy.