Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of parental factors that may relate to the pathogenesis of molar pregnancy.
Methods: A retrospective review of six patients who had a molar pregnancy with at least two different partners at New England Trophoblastic Disease Center between 1965 and March 1999 was performed.
Results: A total of 34 pregnancies with 20 different partners were observed in 6 patients. These pregnancies resulted in 15 (44.1%) hydatidiform moles, 8 (23.5%) term live births, 7 (20.6%) therapeutic abortions, 3 (8.8%) spontaneous abortions, and 1 preterm delivery. While 5 patients had a molar pregnancy with 2 different partners, 1 patient had a molar pregnancy with 3 different partners. Two patients developed persistent postmolar gestational trophoblastic tumor in 3 (20.0%) of the 15 episodes of molar pregnancy. Three of the male partners reported a total of 7 healthy children from prior relationships.
Conclusion: The experience in these six patients suggests that a primary oocyte problem may contribute to the development of molar pregnancy.
Copyright 1999 Academic Press.