Molar pregnancy is an abnormal condition caused by abnormal fertilization of the egg. Usually when two sperms fertilize the same egg and both leave their genetic material in it, results in three sets of chromosomes instead of two.
Can A Molar Pregnancy Be Detected At 5 Weeks?
The molar pregnancy can be detected only after eight or nine weeks of pregnancy through ultrasound only. The detection of ultrasound may show no fetus, no amniotic fluid, or a thick placenta with cysts almost filling the uterus. However, if the HCG test shows abnormally high or low levels during the fifth week, it can be molar pregnancy.
It should be noticed that generally there could be no signs of a molar pregnancy and it may not be diagnosed unless the routine ultrasound gets done at 11th-13th week. Although there could be some symptoms during pregnancy which can relate to molar pregnancy like:
- Dark and irregular vaginal bleeding
- Extreme morning sickness
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Grape sized cysts which may sometimes pass through vagina
- Pelvic pain and pressure
These symptoms along with high HCG levels can relate to partial or complete molar pregnancy. Molar pregnancy, whether complete or partial can be a distressing complication. Although its occurrence is rare, i.e. it occurs in about 1 out of 1000 pregnant females, but when it occurs, it leads to serious complications, long term of treatment and sometimes it even becomes cancerous. The prolonged chemotherapy and treatment of molar pregnancy can be frightening and depressing for the patient. Therefore, it is important to know what it is and what should be expected if someone is suffering from it.
How Is Molar Pregnancy Detected?
The HCG level is high also in case of twins, but if it is found to be abnormally high along with the above symptoms, it is certainly molar pregnancy. Those who are below the age of 20 and above the age of 35 have more chances of getting molar pregnancies. Also if there have been earlier such pregnancies there are chances of having more in future.
Most of the people want to know the difference between miscarriage and molar pregnancy. Although both the conditions leads to the loss of pregnancy, but there is a basic difference between the two. Miscarriage happens due to chromosomal abnormalities, while the molar pregnancies are a result of formation of abnormal placental growth. The female can conceive after few days of miscarriage again as soon as she recovers, but in case of molar pregnancy the females are advised to wait for at least 6 to 12 months before conceiving again. In case of miscarriage, there is no placental growth as such after removing the fetus, but in case of molar pregnancy there can be persistent cell growth. This is the reason the doctors ask the females to wait for at least 6 to 12 months before conceiving again.
Sometimes the molar pregnancy can be carcinogenic when the placenta cells detach from the uterus and moves to other body parts to grow. To check the exact location of the cells a detailed X-ray or a CT scan may be required.
How Is Molar Pregnancy Treated?
Many times the molar pregnancies may expel out naturally with expelling the placental tissue. Depending on how much the tissue growth has extended, the dilation and curettage procedure is applied to completely remove the tissue. To make sure that the tissues are removed completely and there is no growth left, the HCG levels will be monitored for several weeks. If the HCG level is dropping down, it means that the tissues have been removed completely and is not left. If the level of HCG is not going down and not returning to normal it means that the molar tissue is still growing.
Conclusion
The molar pregnancy can be detected during first five weeks if the HCG test shows abnormally high levels. There also could be some symptoms which may indicate the presence of molar pregnancy. When high level of HCG or such symptoms are seen, it should be immediately diagnosed.
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American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2021). Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. Link: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/gestational-trophoblastic-disease
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MedlinePlus. (2021). Hydatidiform mole. Link: https://medlineplus.gov/hydatidiformmole.html
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Seckl, M. J., Sebire, N. J., Fisher, R. A., Golfier, F., Massuger, L., Sessa, C., & ESMO Guidelines Working Group. (2010). Gestational trophoblastic disease: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology, 21(Supplement_5), v39–v50. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdq194 Link: https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/21/suppl_5/v39/209238
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Lurain, J. R. (2010). Gestational trophoblastic disease I: epidemiology, pathology, clinical presentation and diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, and management of hydatidiform mole. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 203(6), 531-539. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.06.072 Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937810007073
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