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What Is a Molar Pregnancy?

Just the Facts

By Carol Sjostrom Miller

Hiltbrand continued the weekly blood tests until her hCG level returned to normal. "[This] took approximately four months," she notes. "After that point, I had blood tests every [other] month for six months – a total of three tests – to ensure that the hCG stayed down." After the three normal tests, "we were given the green light to try for another child."

During the follow-up period, "effective birth control is a must," advises Dr. Repke. Dr. Stotland agrees and adds that another pregnancy should be delayed during this time "because a new pregnancy will cause the [hCG] levels to rise and prevent detection of an invasive mole." However, once a woman is given the go-ahead to try to conceive again, she should not experience any fertility problems due to the previous molar pregnancy. The recurrence rate of molar pregnancy is also low – about 1 to 2 percent, according to Dr. Repke, who says "a new pregnancy should not be affected by the history of molar pregnancy."

This was the case for Hiltbrand. "We were given the green light to try for another child in January 2000," she says. "We conceived in February 2000." Her story gets even better. "After a very easy and successful pregnancy, I gave birth to my son the following November."

Want to see more?

• Out of Place: Ectopic Pregnancy
• Private Suffering: The Issue of DES Daughters
• In the Genes: Testing for Genetic Disorders
• Talk about it!

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