There are three major hazards of endometrial thickening. In daily life, endometrial thickening is a common condition among women. Many women experience this, which can be very detrimental to their health and has a significant impact. So, is endometrial thickening a disease? What are the hazards of endometrial thickening? How can it be prevented?
Is endometrial thickening a disease?
Endometrial thickening is indeed a type of gynecological disease. As it is a disease, it is harmful. The hazards caused by this condition include irregular menstruation, infertility or ease of miscarriage, or irregular uterine bleeding. Due to the numerous dangers posed by this illness, it is recommended that patients receive timely treatment. First, from an isolated case of endometrial thickening, it is impossible to determine whether the patient is sick and to ascertain the specific severity of the condition, as the thickness of the endometrium in women is variable and changes with the menstrual cycle. For example, in the few days leading up to menstruation, the endometrium is thick, but when menstruation occurs, part of the endometrium sheds, rendering it thin. During menstruation, the endometrium may slowly thicken again until the next cycle. It is suggested that patients reevaluate three to seven days after menstruation for accurate test results.
Causes of endometrial thickening
1. Obesity: In obese women, androgens secreted by the adrenal glands are converted into estrone by aromatase in adipose tissue; the more adipose tissue, the stronger the conversion capacity, leading to higher levels of estrone in the plasma, resulting in prolonged estrogen effects.
2. Endocrine functional tumors: Endocrine functional tumors are rare, accounting for 7.5% of tumors. Dysfunctional gonadotropin from the pituitary gland and granulosa cell tumors of the ovaries are also continuous sources of estrogen.
3. Simple endometrial hyperplasia: The uterine lesions are somewhat larger, with endometrial thickening, sometimes showing a diffuse **sarcomatous appearance. The amount of scraping may be significant and can mix with smooth, red polypoid tissue. Microscopic findings reveal diffuse lesions involving the functional layer of the endometrium and the basal layer, with simultaneous proliferation of stroma and glands, resulting in non-crowded glands. The glands vary in size and have smoother contours. The morphology of the glandular epithelial cells is similar to that of normal late proliferative phase cells and shows no atypia.
4. Complex endometrial hyperplasia: The causes of complex hyperplasia are similar to those of simple hyperplasia, but since the lesions are focal, they may also be related to the distribution of hormone receptors in the tissue. Some rare cases of complex hyperplasia can develop into dysplasia, affecting prognosis. The affected endometrium may become thicker or thinner, or may appear polypoid. Unlike simple hyperplasia, the lesions represent focal hyperplasia of glandular components and do not involve the stroma. The amount of scraping can vary, typically mixed with normal endometrium, atrophic tissue, or other types of hyperplasia.
Hazards of endometrial thickening
1. Hormonal imbalance and premature aging: Endometrial thickening is related to female hormone levels, and endometrial hyperplasia is mainly caused by hormonal imbalance, which can easily lead to facial pigmentation and dark yellow skin in women.
2. Impact on female pregnancy: The estrogens and progesterones secreted by the ovum during the ovulatory cycle increase blood supply to the endometrium, resulting in thickening of the endometrium, and the proliferative phase of the membrane may affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
3. Massive bleeding leading to shock: A common clinical symptom of endometrial thickening is **irregular bleeding. If the condition is severe and the bleeding is excessive, it can lead to shock.
Endometrial thickening hazards continue…
