Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.

Molar pregnancy

A molar pregnancy is a mass of abnormal placental cell growth (hydatidiform mole) inside the uterus that triggers symptoms of pregnancy. A complete molar pregnancy is a tissue mass that can fill the uterus. A partial molar pregnancy may include severely abnormal fetal tissue.

Symptoms of pregnancy are often more intense in a molar pregnancy. Morning sickness may be severe. The uterus may grow at a faster-than-normal rate. And blood pressure may be unusually high.

The cause of molar pregnancy is thought to be a genetic abnormality. The risk of molar pregnancy is highest before age 15 and after age 40. If you've had a molar pregnancy in the past, you have a slightly increased risk of having another.

All molar growth must be removed from the uterus to prevent cancerous cell growth. The tissue is suctioned out through the cervix and vagina (vacuum aspiration). Then the uterus is scraped of any remaining abnormal cells (curettage). Chemotherapy is used when abnormal tissue is or may become cancerous (trophoblastic cancer).