Molar pregnancy

Molar pregnancies happen if there’s a problem with the fertilised egg, which means a baby and a placenta don’t develop the way you’d expect after conception. They’re rare, but a molar pregnancy will not survive. They are not caused by either parent doing something wrong – they happen by chance. ^{Footnote [1]}

 

It’s when a pregnancy doesn’t develop properly because of an imbalance in the number of chromosomes. There are two types of molar pregnancy: ^{Footnote [1]}

• complete molar pregnancy – there’s no development of a baby in the womb

• partial molar pregnancy – there are some early signs of a baby, but the placenta grows abnormally and therefore the foetus can’t survive. 

When a person has a molar pregnancy, they might have some typical symptoms of pregnancy or none at all. It might be that you find out at your first ultrasound scan – these usually happen between 8 and 14 weeks. Some people might only realise they’re having a molar pregnancy after it ends with a miscarriage. ^{Footnote [1]}

Symptoms include:  

• a missed period and a positive pregnancy test

• feeling very sick or vomiting

• irregular bleeding

• other symptoms associated with a miscarriage ^{Footnote [2]}, such as cramping in the lower stomach. ^{Footnote [3]}

Other less common symptoms of a molar pregnancy are:  

• high blood pressure and headaches, similar to symptoms of pre-eclampsia

• feeling short of breath

• trouble sleeping, a faster heart rate than normal or shaking

• paler skin than usual

• pain in the lower stomach. 

It’s important you get medical advice from your GP or midwife if you experience any of these symptoms.

A healthcare professional can diagnose a molar pregnancy through a blood test and ultrasound scan. 

First you’ll have a blood test to check the level of hcG hormone – the pregnancy hormone that’s usually higher than normal in a molar pregnancy. HcG is produced in all pregnancies to help the baby to develop. 

You’ll then have an appointment with a specialist or at an early pregnancy assessment unit. It can be difficult to process being diagnosed with a molar pregnancy. At your appointment they’ll be able to give you any help and support you need. 

Finally, you’ll be booked in for an ultrasound scan. ^{Footnote [1]} 

If you’re pregnant, you usually have your first ultrasound scan around 11 to 14 weeks. The sonographer (the healthcare professional carrying out the scan) will scan your tummy to examine the baby. ^{Footnote [4]} An ultrasound scan can detect a serious health condition in your baby – this includes molar pregnancies. 

If your doctor or midwife thinks you might be having a molar pregnancy, they’ll book you in for an internal ultrasound scan. During an internal ultrasound (otherwise known as a transvaginal ultrasound), a scanner is placed inside your vagina. This might feel uncomfortable, but usually only takes a few minutes. ^{Footnote [5]}

A molar pregnancy might end on its own with a miscarriage. For cases where this doesn’t happen, then you will either have a procedure under general anaesthetic or be given a medicine to take to end the pregnancy.^{Footnote [1]}

What happens after treatment? 

You’ll receive follow up care after treatment – regular blood and urine tests to check your hormone levels are returning to normal. Sometimes, in very rare cases, the cells from the molar pregnancy stay in the womb and become cancerous. If this happens, it can usually be treated well with chemotherapy.^{Footnote [1]}

Help dealing with treatment for a molar pregnancy

A molar pregnancy can be hard, both mentally and physically. Your specialist will support you through this and might also recommend support services in your local area.^{Footnote [1]}

As mentioned earlier in this article, it’s important to know that a molar pregnancy happens by chance – it isn’t caused by either parent doing something wrong.

You might be more likely to have a molar pregnancy if: 

• you’re in your early teens

• you’re aged 45 or over  

• you’ve experienced a molar pregnancy before 

• you have an Asian background ^{Footnote [1]}

You could use your Aviva health insurance to claim for treatment for a molar pregnancy. The first step is to get a referral from your GP, or through our Digital GP app^. Then you can make a claim through MyAviva, over the phone, or online. You’ll find our terms and conditions in your policy documents.

If your claim meets the terms of your policy, we’ll pay for the treatment directly. Just be sure to tell us if you need more tests or treatment, or if your hospital or specialist changes. 

^ These services are non-contractual and can be withdrawn or amended by Aviva at any time.