Pregnancy Treatment

Pregnancy, Treatment, women, ectopic pregnancies, ectopic pregnancy, fallopian tube, doctor, rupture, skin, surgery, uterus, pregnant women, symptoms, Ectopic Pregnancy. Molar pregnancy, which is medically referred to as hydatidiform mole, is an abnormal form of pregnancy. This rare complication of pregnancy is classified under gestational trophoblastic diseases. This condition is caused by abnormal fertilization. Given below is some information on types of molar pregnancy along with molar pregnancy treatment.

Before I move on to molar pregnancy treatment options, let me tell you what turns a normal pregnancy into a molar pregnancy. Molar pregnancy is basically an anomaly that could occur during the fertilization process. This condition is characterized by the development of abnormal placental cells, following the fertilization of sperm and the egg. Molar pregnancy is classified into complete molar pregnancy and partial molar pregnancy. A complete molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole, develops when the sperm fertilizes an egg that doesn’t have a nucleus. Under normal circumstances, the fertilized egg contains 23 chromosomes from the father as well as the mother. When the egg doesn’t contain DNA, the chromosomes from the sperm duplicate. Since the fertilized egg is bereft of the mother’s chromosomes, normal placental tissue, embryo or amniotic sac wouldn’t be formed.






Under normal circumstances, a layer of cells called trophoblasts develop into finger-like projections called villi. It is this layer of cells that develops into placenta. Due to this chromosomal abnormality, these projections swell up with fluid, and develop into grape-like clusters in the uterus. In case of a partial molar pregnancy, the fertilized egg does contain maternal chromosomes, but the paternal chromosomes are doubled. This may occur when the chromosomes from the sperm duplicate, or the egg is fertilized by two sperms. After fertilization, placental tissue as well as the embryo would develop.




 This chromosomal abnormality, however, causes the development of abnormal placental cells. Despite the presence of the fetal tissue, the trophoblastic tissue makes it impossible for the fetus to develop properly. Abnormal growth of uterus, elevated hCG levels, vaginal bleeding in the first trimester, vaginal discharge, nausea, vomiting, pelvic discomfort and fluid retention in lower extremities, are some of the symptoms one may experience due to this condition.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that is detected in a woman’s blood, a few days after conception. If hCG levels are higher than normal, a pelvic examination is often conducted to rule out molar pregnancy.



Imaging procedures such as an ultrasound can also help in detecting the presence of such an abnormal growth within the uterus. Doctors may prescribe drugs that may enable the patient to miscarry the abnormal placental tissue. The most commonly used partial molar pregnancy treatment option, however, is to have the mole removed through dilation and curettage. Under this procedure, the entrance of the uterus is dilated, and the abnormal growth is either scraped away or suctioned out. Doctors may also conduct a pelvic ultrasound while performing vacuum suction. Dilation and curettage is often used for treating complete as well as partial molar pregnancy. These procedures are performed under anesthesia. Though this condition is usually benign, at times, women who have earlier undergone removal of hydatidiform mole, may become susceptible to trophoblastic cancer.




A majority of women who have been diagnosed with trophoblastic cancer are usually prescribed methotrexate. This is a drug that helps in stopping cancerous cells from growing at a fast rate. It can also lower the risk of trophoblastic cancer in women diagnosed with molar pregnancy. Unlike complete or partial hydatidiform mole, invasive moles grow into the uterine muscle layer. Since these grow into the muscle layer of the uterus, it’s extremely difficult to remove them through dilation and curettage. These may even spread to other parts and need to be treated through chemotherapy. Women who have undergone chemotherapy as a part of molar pregnancy treatment, are often asked to wait for at least one year, if they wish to conceive. Routine follow-up visits are required after the removal of mole. hCG levels may also be checked every six months. In fact, doctors check for this pregnancy hormone until no traces of hCG show up in blood or urine. If the patient doesn’t wish to conceive in future, doctors may suggest the removal of uterus. Hysterectomy is usually suggested for older women.

This was a brief overview on molar pregnancy treatment. Molar pregnancy is a complicated pregnancy that must be diagnosed and treated at the earliest. If an ultrasound and a pelvic exam reveal the presence of abnormal placental tissue, these must be soon removed from the uterus. Though hydatidiform moles are usually benign, one cannot completely rule out the risk of invasive moles. It is therefore, essential that women, who have suffered from molar pregnancy before, consult a doctor on experiencing such symptoms. Going for pelvic examination or ultrasound annually would certainly help in early detection of this condition.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies, pregnancy, uterus, fallopian tube, surgery, ectopic, treatment, risk, women, tube, risk factors, fertilized egg, tubal pregnancy, methotrexate, pain, fallopian tubes, hCG levels, doctor, pregnancies. What Is Ectopic Pregnancy?

The dictionary definition of the word 'Ectopic' is an organ or body part existing in an unusual position or form. In simple terms, an ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy, which is developing in the wrong place. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg (or ovum) fails to move down the fallopian tube and into the womb (or uterus) in the normal manner. Instead, the egg or ovum  implants itself outside of the womb. Most often, (in 95% of cases), ectopic  pregnancies develop in a fallopian tube and rarely, elsewhere in the abdominal cavity or pelvic area. For example, an egg can attach itself on an ovary, on the neck of the womb (cervix) or on another organ within the pelvic or abdominal area (1.5% abdominal, 0.5% ovarian & 0.03% cervical). Ectopic pregnancies do not usually survive and many will result in a spontaneous miscarriage, others will
develop until a serious problem becomes apparent, which will require immediate medical attention.

What Causes An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Sometimes the ovum fails to implant itself and it becomes fertilized outside of the reproductive system. More commonly, the fertilized ovum is trapped, in the fallopian tube and the baby continues to grow inside the tube where it can cause  the tube to burst or otherwise severely damage it. A burst tube is life threatening and requires urgent medical attention.  In many cases, ectopic pregnancies occur when the expectant mother has damaged fallopian tube(s).

Tubes damaged, by infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease or by previous surgery, scar tissue, endometriosis or previous ectopic pregnancies are a high-risk factor, which significantly, increase the likelihood of a pregnancy being ectopic. Another risk factor associated with ectopic pregnancies is becoming pregnant, whilst using a contraceptive-coil or a progestogen only contraceptive pill. Pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization (i.e. test-tube methods) can be ectopic - even though, the fertilized egg is placed directly into the womb, it may still attach itself elsewhere. In some cases, none of the above risk factors are present in the expectant mother.

What Are The Warning Signs Of An Ectopic Pregnancy? Pain In the Abdomen - The first sign of an ectopic pregnancy can be a pain on one side of the abdomen. This pain can be constant and severe and its onset, sudden. Pain in the Shoulder - An alternative warning sign could be a pain in the shoulder, which intensifies when breathing in and out. Pain Using the Lavatory - If you suspect you are pregnant and experience pain during visits to the bathroom you should report this to your medical practitioner.

Vaginal bleeding or unusual periods, lighter or heavier than normal, or a
strange color etc
Sickness
Diarrhoea
Pallid complexion (paleness)
Light-headedness
Collapse
Increasing pulse rate
Falling blood pressure
Diagnosing An Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancies can be hard to detect as in many cases, the symptoms are no different from those of a normal, early pregnancy, i.e. tender breasts, nausea, vomiting, missed periods or frequent urination. If you are a sexually active woman of childbearing age and you experience symptoms of an early pregnancy plus any, of the above warning signs, of an ectopic pregnancy, contact your medical practitioner immediately.

A urine pregnancy test will usually be positive but is not always apparent. However, a specialized hCG blood test will always show a positive result. If a pregnancy is ectopic, the womb will often be smaller than the average womb at that stage of pregnancy and this will be detected during an internal pelvic examination. A doctor can sometimes detect a swelling, during an internal examination, which is evidence of an ectopic pregnancy existing.

An ultrasound scan will differentiate between a possible miscarriage, a normal pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy.

The majority of women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy will require surgical intervention and/or medication. In the worst-case scenario, without this intervention, an ectopic pregnancy can be fatal to the mother. Medical and technological advancements mean that ectopic pregnancies are easier to detect than ever before and therefore, they carry less risk than they did in previous years. Technological advancements have significantly improved the treatment of ectopic pregnancies - keyhole surgery is just one example of this.

It is vital to seek the opinion of a medical practitioner if you suspect you are carrying an ectopic pregnancy. ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies, pregnancy, uterus, fallopian tube, surgery, ectopic, treatment, risk, women, tube, risk factors, fertilized egg, tubal pregnancy, methotrexate, pain, fallopian tubes, hCG levels, doctor, pregnancies.