The article presents a brief review of the literature on the role of growth factors in the processes of trophoblast invasion and their association with the pathological course of pregnancy. The importance of vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor and vessels receptors, transforming growth factor, insulin-like growth factor in the development and differentiation of the placenta during physiological pregnancy are shown. There has been described violations that allow to assert the involvement of vascular growth factors and their receptors in the pathogenesis of placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, spontaneous miscarriage, fetal growth retardation. The analysis of the literature data concerning the role of growth factors in the processes of trophoblast invasion and various complications of the gestational period allowed to draw a conclusion about the insufficient study of this issue.