What Are Pregnancy Tumors?
By Shiraz Asif | Published on May 25, 2011 | 0 Comments
Women who are pregnant have major hormonal fluctuations, which can lead to more than just mood swings and food cravings. According to Dr. Shiraz Asif, a family dentist in Eden Prairie, MN, who practices at Anderson Lake Dental, these hormonal changes can also lead to a condition known as pregnancy tumors.
Although the term tumor sounds terrible, Dr. Asif says the condition is not nearly as bad as it sounds. A pregnancy tumor has nothing to do with a brain tumor or with any cancerous lesions, says Dr. Asif. Rather, a pregnancy tumor is a condition that is closely related to pregnancy gingivitis.
At its core, a pregnancy tumor is an inflammatory reaction to an irritation of the gums. The most common of these gum irritants is plaque; however, leftover food particles can also be to blame.
A pregnancy tumor looks like a small red pimple on the gum line. These tumors can range in size, with some being very small and some being very large. At its worst, a pregnancy tumor may bleed and crust over. This can make it difficult for a woman to eat, or even speak in some very extreme cases.
If a pregnancy tumor is going to form inside a woman’s mouth, then it will usually form sometime during her second trimester. Thankfully, pregnancy tumors do not spread to other areas of the body. Women who are nearing the end of their pregnancy without any sign of pregnancy gingivitis or a pregnancy tumor can usually assume that they are in the clear as far as pregnancy tumors are concerned.
Research has shown that approximately 10% of all women who become pregnant will suffer from pregnancy tumors at some point during their nine months of pregnancy. Although having gingivitis does not guarantee that a woman will get a pregnancy tumor, there have been studies that have shown that women with pregnancy gingivitis are at an increased risk for developing these tumors.
In most cases, pregnancy tumors disappear on their own after a woman has given birth. However, some women may want to look into potential treatment options for getting rid of their tumor before then, such as in cases where a bleeding or a crusty tumor is making is too painful to eat. A pregnancy tumor can be removed, however the Eden Prairie family dentist cautions that there is always the chance that it will reappear.
For more information on what pregnancy tumors are and how to treat them once they sprout up, Dr. Asif recommends that patients contact his office in Eden Prairie and schedule an examination with the family dentist.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.