A molar pregnancy is an uncommon cause of pregnancy loss. It occurs when an egg is fertilized but no baby develops. Instead, the cells that ordinarily produce the placenta exhibit atypical development.

Molar pregnancies are more common among women under 15 and beyond 45 years old, and women who have had a previous molar pregnancy. A molar pregnancy is also known as 'hydatidiform mole' or 'gestational trophoblastic disease' (GTD).

What Causes Molar Pregnancy?
A pregnancy begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg. The fertilized egg moves to the uterus (womb) and implants. A molar pregnancy happens when the cells that ordinarily form a placenta develop into a cluster of aberrant cells.

A molar pregnancy may be whole or partial. During a full molar pregnancy, no embryo develops. It generally occurs when a sperm fertilizes an egg that contains no genetic material.

A fetus can develop in a partial molar pregnancy, but it is abnormal and will not survive. A partial molar pregnancy often occurs when a normal egg is fertilized by two sperm.

If you have a molar pregnancy, it was not caused by your actions or inaction.

What Signs Indicate a Molar Pregnancy?
Women with a molar pregnancy frequently feel pregnant and experience pregnancy symptoms including aching breasts and morning sickness. Other signs of a molar pregnancy may include vaginal hemorrhage and black discharge.

Your doctor or midwife may also note that your uterus feels bigger than it should be at this point of pregnancy. Some women with a molar pregnancy may experience additional issues, such as:

- High blood pressure;
- Pre-eclampsia;
- Thyroid issues.

How Is a Molar Pregnancy Diagnosed?
If you are concerned about any of your symptoms, see your doctor or midwife. They'll inquire about your symptoms and evaluate you. Your doctor may prescribe an ultrasound scan and a blood test to determine your pregnancy hormone levels.

Some women may learn they have a molar pregnancy during their first normal prenatal ultrasound screening. Others may discover a molar pregnancy after a miscarriage or termination by examining the pregnancy tissue under a microscope.

How Are Molar Pregnancies Treated?
A molar pregnancy must be removed to prevent problems. A professional doctor performs this procedure in a hospital or clinic setting. You may normally return home on the same day as the treatment.

The expert doctor will remove the tissue from your uterus. This is done during a process known as 'dilatation and curettage'. A D&C is normally performed under general anesthesia. The cells from the molar pregnancy are examined in a laboratory. Most cases of molar pregnancy may be treated simply by removing the tissue.

In certain circumstances, part of the molar tissue remains. It has the potential to expand farther into your uterus. This is known as an 'invasive mole' and requires additional treatment.

Rarely, the molar tissue develops into cancer known as 'choriocarcinoma', which requires further therapy.

Follow-Up Care
Your doctor will order weekly blood tests to ensure that all of the molar tissue has been removed. These are used to monitor your HCG levels until they return to normal.

Once your hCG level has returned to normal, you will be requested to take monthly blood tests for the next 6 months to ensure that everything is well.

Getting Pregnant Again After a Molar Pregnancy
A molar pregnancy does not reduce your chances of becoming pregnant again. However, you will be urged to wait for your doctor's approval before attempting to conceive again.

Consult your physician about the best method of contraception to take while preventing pregnancy.

Emotional Assistance After a Molar Pregnancy
Whatever the cause, the loss of a pregnancy may be traumatic. Molar pregnancy might also be difficult to progress due to the lengthy follow-up period.

Following a pregnancy loss, you may experience deep sadness. You may feel devastated and lost, especially if this is your first time hearing about this condition. Some people may have anxiety about the future. 

Grief is a distinct experience that affects each person differently. Allow yourself time to grieve. Share your thoughts with supporting relatives and friends.