What is the difference between a chemical pg, a molar pg & a blighted ovum?

Bethany · 05-13-2003, 11:57 AM

Does anyone know? I am pretty sure that my RE said I have had chemical pregnancies, but I don't know what the difference is. Everything I read makes all 3 sound very similar.

Also, is the cause of all 3 the same -- possible chromosomal problems, often caused by poor egg or sperm quality?

Is the poor egg quality (from PCOS) likely the main reason we are having m/c's?? If so, what can we do to fix it?

TIA

MaLee · 05-13-2003, 02:08 PM

A chemical pg, is when the blastocyst tries to attach but doesn't. The beta for these are extremely low and most don't know they are even pg. They think AF is just a few days late. (Unless, your are TTC - then you know.)

A Blighted Ovum is a pg that may be a few weeks along and when going in for a early u/s, there is a large sac but no baby - no fetal pole - no anything.

A molar pg is a bi%ch! I know! There are two kinds of MP. Complete and Partial. What happens in a partial MP is there are 3 sets of chromosomes giving the baby a 69XXX or 69XXY or 69XYY. Either one sperm fetizles the egg and splits and all three sets of chromosomes multiply OR two sperm fertilze the egg and again all three multiply. With a PMP, there is a baby but it is usually badly disformed. The placenta is abnormal also. In a CMP, either two sperm or one sperm ferterlize an egg and they "deactivate" the mother's 23 chromosomes and duplicate themselves. Their is usually no baby is this stituation - just abnormal placenta.
The abnormal placenta is called a mole and can lead to cancer if not caught early. It can attach deep into the uterine wall and spread throughout the body. Most don't know of this until they have an ultrasound or start miscarring.

I don't believe it is always poor egg quality causing m/c, but bad hormone qualities. Too much of one - not enough of the other. I believe you just have to find the ones causing problems and try to regulate them.

Bethany · 05-13-2003, 06:55 PM

Thank you Ma Lee for clearing that up for me. You are very well-informed, I must say

shelby · 05-14-2003, 10:13 PM

I wanted to let you know there is a test they perform to check egg quality. It's called a clomid challenge test. After my blight ovum last fall, they did one one me (I guess because I am 34) and I was fine.

Most problems occur when the chromosomes mis fire. A blight ovum doesn't necessarily mean your egg was bad. They think the current mc rate is 1 in 4 pgs. Many women mc without even knowing because they don't track things like we do.

kellymay · 05-17-2003, 02:41 AM

Shelby, what exactly is involved in a 'clomid challenge test?' I'm very curious about my egg quality, but didn't think there was really any definite way to test (except for maybe retrieval/fertilization rates, as in IVF). Can you tell me where I could find more info on this?
TIA
kelly

BTW, I grew up just over the Walt Whitman Bridge from you, in Laurel Springs, NJ

shelby · 05-17-2003, 03:39 PM

It's really very simple. You take 100 mg of clomid on cd 5-9. On cd 3 and 10 they take blood to check the FSH level. Apparently from this they can check your qualilty/reserve.

I had never heard about it until did some simple searches, but it's really quite common. Just go to any search engine and type in Clomid challege test.

Good luck!

kellymay · 05-17-2003, 11:13 PM

Thanks for the info Shelby! I'm going to have to ask my RE about doing that; maybe it'll put my mind at ease