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Glite Dictionary
molar pregnancy

molar pregnancy

1 9.9
Tissue in the womb during early pregnancy that forms a mass of small sacs and causes loss of the baby
  • noun
  • /ˈmoʊlər ˈprɛɡnənsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : embarazo molar
  • Due to her diagnosis of a molar pregnancy, she had to consult with her doctor about the next steps.

Examples

  • Abortion absolutely is health care whether it's required after a miscarriage, in the case of life-threatening complications of pregnancy, and in cases of non-viable fetus or molar pregnancy.

    Blog text (11)

  • Apologies for the molar pregnancy.

    Blog text (11)

  • You don't agree that abortion is necessary in cases of molar pregnancy?

    Blog text (11)

  • I should have investigated before stating opposition to abortion for molar pregnancy.

    Blog text (11)

  • My second loss happened just over a month ago at 13 weeks and 3 days, and it was a partial molar pregnancy; of course, a D&C had to be done (my stupid body continued to act pregnant even though the baby was dead at 8 weeks).

    Blog text (29)

  • For a non-viable fetus or molar pregnancy, I don't agree with you but can understand your position.

    Blog text (11)

  • The incidence of hydatidiform molar pregnancies in the UK is about 1.5 per 1,000 live births.

    Academic text (1992)

  • A molar pregnancy occurs when tissue that usually develops into the placenta becomes an abnormal mass of cysts.

  • She experienced a molar pregnancy, which led to a D&C to remove the abnormal tissue.

Synonyms

hydatidiform mole
vsmolar pregnancy
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare growth in the womb during early pregnancy that forms fluid-filled cysts and often causes loss of the baby

is the general term for that rare pregnancy cyst complication
hydatid mole
vsmolar pregnancy
  • Specialized
9.9

A pregnancy condition where tissue grows into many fluid-filled sacs instead of a baby

is a shorter less formal label for that placental cyst condition

Surface Forms

molar pregnancy singular
molar pregnancies plural

Morphology

molar + pregnancy

A B1 learner who knows 'molar' (as relating to the grinding tooth) and 'pregnancy' would not be able to derive the medical meaning; the phrase refers to a specific pathological condition (hydatidiform mole) unrelated to molar teeth. This is a specialized, conventional medical term whose meaning is lexicalized rather than compositional, so it is unpredictable from its parts.

Etymology

Molar pregnancy gets its name from an old word for a 'lump' or 'mass'. In a molar pregnancy the placenta tissue grows into a mass of small, grape-like cysts instead of a normal placenta, so the pregnancy usually cannot continue.