How to Treat a Molar Pregnancy

The presence of a mole is a serious complication of pregnancy. Molar pregnancies occur in up to one out of every thousand pregnancies. Once you doctor diagnoses a molar pregnancy, he will devise a treatment plan for you. Proper treatment of a molar pregnancy is critical, as this type of pregnancy can cause serious problems, including cancer. Here are some things that are likely to be a part of the treatment plan for a molar pregnancy.

Instructions

1. Have the abnormal molar tissue removed from your uterus through a D&C (dilation and curettage) procedure. This surgery, performed under general anesthesia by your doctor, is the first course of treatment for a molar pregnancy. Removal of all molar tissue is important because tissue that isn't removed can develop into cancerous tissue.

2. Have regular pelvic exams to check the sizes of your reproductive organs. In cases of molar pregnancies, the uterus and ovaries are often enlarged. Checking the relative sizes of these organs is important because if they remain enlarged after a D&C, abnormal tissue may still be in the uterus. Also, if these organs grow again after the molar pregnancy, cancer or gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) may be suspected.

3. Monitor the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your blood. This level will need to be monitored through blood tests until it reaches the normal level for a non-pregnant woman (zero). After the molar pregnancy is diagnosed, blood will be tested several times a week for hCG levels. Then, the level of hCG will be tested on a weekly basis until it has been at zero for approximately 2 weeks. After that, you can expect to have hCG monitored monthly for six months and then every 2 or 3 months until one year from the initial diagnosis of the molar pregnancy. A hCG level that rises or does not go down to zero can be indicative of molar tissue remaining in the uterus or of cancerous cells caused by the mole.

4. Treat gestational trophoblastic disease (cancer) if it occurs. In some cases of molar pregnancies, molar tissue remains in the uterus and develops into malignant (cancerous) tissue. If this occurs, treatment with the chemotherapy drug, methotrexate, is often indicated. This drug is given by injection, and in most cases, one injection is enough to help expel the remaining tissue and cancerous cells. You doctor may also order CAT scans to check if cancerous cells from the molar tissue have spread to other body parts, such as the lungs or brain.

5. Grieve the loss of your pregnancy. Just as important as healing the physical problems associated with a molar pregnancy is healing the emotional issues. Take time to mourn the loss with your partner. Support groups or counselors may also be able to help with the grieving process.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep up with all doctor's appointments and laboratory tests during the treatment of a molar pregnancy. This is crucial to your health and to making sure that the molar pregnancy does not develop into something more serious such as cancer.

• If all molar tissue has been passed naturally through the vagina, a D&C may not be necessary.

• If you do not plan to try and become pregnant again, a hysterectomy may be suggested as a treatment for a molar pregnancy. This is most common in women over the age of 40 and those with complete molar pregnancies.

• If you have Rh-negative blood, a Rhogam shot will be part of your treatment plan. Ask your doctor if this shot will be necessary for you.

• Approximately 5 percent of partial molar pregnancies and 20 percent of complete molar pregnancies will develop into persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).

• Doctors suggest not getting pregnant for one year after a molar pregnancy. This is to make sure that the molar pregnancy has not developed into persistent gestational trophoblastic disease or cancer. Hormone levels from a pregnancy can mask these complications of a molar pregnancy.

• The information in this article is not meant to serve as a substitute for regular medical advice and care. Always contact your doctor if you have questions concerning your own personal health.