Conditions in Early pregnancy Flashcards
Recurrent Miscarriage, Molar Pregnancy, Implantation Bleeding, Chorionic Haematoma, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Ectopic Pregnancy, Pregnancy of Unknown Location
How many losses of pregnancy determines recurrent miscarriage?
3 or more pregnancy losses
What are some causes of Recurrent Miscarriage?
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Thrombophilia
- Balanced translocation (rare)
- Uterine Abnormality (associated with late first trimester losses)
- Independent factors (Age, Previous Miscarriage)
What is the management of Recurrent Miscarriage in Antiphospholipid Syndrome?
Low molecular weight heparin and Aspirin.
What type of pessary can be used in Recurrent miscarriage?
A progesterone pessary
- If patient is >35 with 2 or more losses if there is no explanation for cause.
What is another name for a molar pregnancy?
Hydatidiform mole
What is a molar pregnancy?
An abnormal form of pregnancy in which a non-viable fertilised egg implants into the uterus or tube.
What are the different types of molar pregnancies?
- A complete mole
- A partial mole
What is a complete mole and how does it occur?
Occurs when two sperm cells fertilise an ovum that contains no genetic material (“an empty ovum”)
- These sperm then combine genetic material, and the cells start to divide and grow.
Which Molar pregnancy has a higher chance of developing into a choriocarcinoma?
A Complete molar pregnancy
What is a Partial molar pregnancy and how does it occur?
Occurs when two sperm cells fertilise a normal ovum (containing genetic material) at the same time.
- The new cell no has three sets of chromosomes (it’s a haploid cell)
- The cell divides and multiplies into a tumour.
What does the Overgrowth contain in molar pregnancy?
Overgrowth of placental tissue with chronic villi swollen with fluid; giving picture of “Grape like Clusters”
What are the clinical features of a molar pregnancy?
Molar pregnancies will behave like a normal pregnancy (periods stop, normal hormonal changes will occur). But there are a few give aways;
- Severe morning sickness
- Hyperthyroidism (hCG mimics TSH)
- Early onset pre-eclampsia
- Abnormally high hCG
- Vaginal bleeding (may contain grape-like tissue)
- Fundus > Dates on abdominal palpation.
What is seen on an Ultrasound of a molar pregnancy?
“Snowstorm Appearance”
- Provisional diagnosis can be made by ultrasound and confirmed with histology of the mole after evacuation.
What is the Management of a molar pregnancy?
- Uterine evacuation and tissue sent to histology to ascertain type.
- After evacuation levels of b-hCG should fall and pregnancy should be avoided for 1 year.
What should be suspected if b-hCG levels fail to drop after a year following evacuation of a hydatidiform mole?
Malignant Choriocarcinoma
When does Implantation Bleeding occur?
When the fertilised egg implants in the endometrial lining.
When would implantation bleeding likely be seen?
About 10 days post-ovulation.
What colour is the bleeding and how much is there?
Light brownish and self-limiting.
- often mistaken as a period.