Falling
Patient stories of monitoring molar pregnancy
Molar pregnancy is an uncommon condition that can follow conception. It is a form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). In rare cases molar pregnancy tissues can persist and without treatment could become cancerous.
Patients may initially experience molar pregnancy in the same way as any other pregnancy, with similar bodily symptoms, expectations and care pathways. They will also have a positive pregnancy test, with ‘the pregnancy hormone’ (hCG) produced in high levels. This hormone is regularly monitored thought treatment and follow-up until it falls to normal - which some patients experience as reaching ‘zero’.
This short film presents three women’s experiences of molar pregnancy. It captures the shock and confusion that can accompany diagnosis of this little-known condition, feelings of being in ‘limbo’ between pregnancy and disease, and the exhaustion of regular monitoring. It ends with hope as they move beyond the condition, with close to 100% of UK patients cured.
The film contains discussion of pregnancy loss which some viewers may find upsetting.
A collaboration between Emily Ross (Sociological Studies) and Northover&Brown.
Credits
The Research
Researcher: Dr Emily Ross
With support and insight from: The Sheffield Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Centre team
Find out more about the research project at https://www.gtdresearch.com/
Thank you to all of the women who shared their stories as part of this research, to the Sheffield GTD Centre and to Mummy’s Star for their ongoing support.
The Film
Animator and Director: Mel Northover
Voice artist: Lucy Ellis
Produced by: Northover&Brown
Funded through the University of Sheffield Pop Up University Digital Fund, with the wider project supported by Wellcome Trust (219725/Z/19/Z).