Associated symptoms

Calcification of the placenta as such does not cause symptoms. Placental calcifications are not noticed by the expectant mother, but are only noticed during the ultrasound examination by the gynecologist. In most cases, placental calcifications are natural and have no disease value.

However, they rarely occur during early pregnancy in the context of a previous illness. These include in particular diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, maternal lupus erythematosus or intrauterine infectious diseases. These diseases lead to various symptoms, but they are per se unrelated to placental calcifications and cannot be associated with them.

A calcified placenta is noticed sonographically, which means that it is diagnosed by ultrasound. The calcifications are noticed during routine pregnancy examinations and usually have no disease value. Symptoms or even pain are not an expression of a calcified placenta.

If the pregnant woman has abdominal pain, other clinical pictures and causes must be considered, but not calcification of the placenta. The calcifications are not noticed by pregnant women. However, abdominal pain during pregnancy can have many different causes, which is why a medical clarification should be made. In most cases, however, they are also of a harmless nature.

Placental Insufficiency

Placental insufficiency is a disturbed exchange of substances between the mother and child via the placenta. This condition can be caused by various factors and clinical pictures. Acute and chronic insufficiency are also distinguished, whereby chronic placental insufficiency in particular can be associated with increased calcification.

However, caution is required here: This is at best a correlation, but not a causality. This means that although increased calcification and a functional disorder of the placenta may occur simultaneously, the calcifications are not the cause of this functional disorder. Diseases concerning the placenta can be of different nature.

Treatment

Calcifications in the placenta as such do not require treatment. However, if they occur in the context of a pre-existing condition, such as diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia or an infectious disease, the respective underlying disease is treated. In the case of very severe calcifications and reduced placental function, i.e. chronic placental insufficiency, the gynecologist will advise physical rest and bed rest to prevent premature birth.

In addition, the pregnancy will be monitored more closely in order to be able to cushion complications at an early stage.In case of a pre-existing high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus, the optimal adjustment of the blood pressure and blood sugar values is very important to positively influence the course of the pregnancy. If the placental insufficiency persists after the 37th week, a medical birth initiation or a caesarean section can be performed to prevent complications. However, this must be decided individually.