QuestionIs it cancer, can you get pregnant and have a normal pregnancy, what are the chances of reoccurance. my daughter is 20 years old.
AnswerDear Yvonne,
A molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole is the result of a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus. In the US, approximately 1 out of 1,000 pregnancies is a molar pregnancy. It usually does not involve growth of an actual embryo. There are two types of molar pregnancies - "complete" and "partial".
Complete molar pregnancies have only placental parts (there is no baby), and form when the sperm fertilizes an empty egg. Because the egg is empty, no baby is formed. The placenta grows and produces the pregnancy hormone, hCG. Unfortunately, an ultrasound will show that there is no fetus, only a placenta. A partial mole occurs when the mass contains both the abnormal cells and an embryo that has severe defects. In this case, the fetus will be overcome by the growing abnormal mass rather quickly.
Approximately 90% of women who have a mole removed require no further treatment. Follow-up typically includes monitoring the hCG levels monthly for six months or as your doctor prescribes. This follow-up is done to ensure that the mole has been removed completely. Traces of the mole can begin to grow again and may possess a cancerous-type threat to other parts of the body. Also, typically another pregnancy should be avoided for one year after a molar pregnancy. After a molar pregnancy without complications, the risk of having another molar pregnancy is only about 1-2%.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you and your daughter well.
Brenda
