What is the endometrium and its diseases
The endometrium is the thin, mucous inner layer of the uterus. May increase and decrease at different stages of the menstrual cycle. In cases where deviations from the norm in the thickness of the endometrium occur, disturbances in the reproductive function of the woman’s body may occur. Disturbances of the endometriotic layer of the uterus can cause:
- diseases of a viral nature;
- hormonal “storms” in a woman’s body;
- medical abortions.
All diseases associated with the mucous layer of the uterus arise from two main endometrial diseases - endometrial hyperplasia and endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a disease of the walls of the uterus in which the cells of the mucous layer grow.
May be:
- genital - spread on the surface and inside the genital organs;
- extragenital - excess endometrium spreads outside the reproductive system and grows on the intestines, lungs, bladder;
- combined - combines both of the above types.
The most common type of endometriosis is genital, which is observed in 40% of women of reproductive age. The causes of the disease are any surgical intervention, abortion and difficult childbirth, chronic inflammation and weak immunity.
It is asymptomatic for a long time, then becomes complicated by painful sexual intercourse and menstruation, and an irregular cycle.
Hyperplasia is a pathological proliferation of endometrial cells, among which there are morphologically altered cells. It is the altered cells that cause pathology.
Hyperplasia develops due to any hormonal disorders in a woman’s body, regardless of what caused them - hormonal drugs or age-related changes.
May be:
- glandular-cystic;
- glandular;
- focal;
- atypical.
If left untreated, both endometriosis and hyperplasia can lead to the development of cancer cells. Both diseases are benign in nature, but do not forget that some types of hyperplasia can quickly become oncologically dangerous.
Types of endometrial diseases
All processes occurring with the endometrium are divided into two main groups: background and precancerous.
Background diseases of the endometrium
Glandular hyperplasia is a pathology of endometrial tissue in which glandular cells grow. Leads to disturbances in its structure and to an increase in the volume of the organ itself.
The causes of the development of the disease may be uterine fibroids, endometritis and endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, refusal of hormonal medications, and any surgical interventions in the uterine cavity.
This pathological form is benign, but can quickly become malignant.
Symptoms of the disease will be:
- disturbance of menstrual cycles, expressed in frequent delays;
- possible onset of severe uterine bleeding with clots during the delay;
- large blood loss may be accompanied by pallor, general weakness, fatigue, and dizziness.
Pregnancy during glandular hyperplasia is a rather rare phenomenon, since it can only occur during a two-phase ovulatory cycle and if the disease itself is non-hormonal, and tissue damage occurs in patches.
This is very dangerous, since hyperplasia polyps can cause bleeding and cause premature birth. If the possibility of conception remains with this disease, this does not mean that pregnancy can occur, since the development of the pathology will prevent the egg from catching on the endometrium or will not provide sufficient space for the growth and development of the fetus.
To treat hyperplasia, the uterine cavity is curetted to remove the affected layer, and then hormonal drugs are prescribed to eliminate the cause of the disease.
Relapse of the disease is possible if hormonal therapy is not suitable for the woman or endocrine diseases have returned. In this case, the treatment can no longer bring results and the woman’s uterus is removed to prevent the development of atypical hyperplasia and its development into a cancerous tumor.
Endometrial polyps are focal protruding growths of the endometrium in the body of the uterus, which are benign in nature. Most often they appear in women of reproductive age.
The reasons for the violation may be:
- lack of progesterone or excess estrogen;
- chronic inflammatory diseases;
- surgical interventions - abortions, prolonged use of the IUD;
- endocrine disorders - diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease.
The growth of single polyps does not cause any symptoms and can be detected accidentally during an ultrasound examination.
The growth of polyps into several foci causes symptoms:
- sharp or aching pain in the lower abdomen;
- slight bleeding during sexual intercourse;
- painful heavy menstruation;
- the occurrence of bleeding immediately after menstruation.
Whether polyps interfere with pregnancy is unknown, but in case of infertility, pockets of polyps are often identified, and if eliminated, pregnancy still occurs. It is undesirable to become pregnant with polyps, as the possibility of miscarriage increases.
It is possible to remove the pathology only with the help of gynecological curettage or hysteroscopy. No medical intervention without surgery will help cleanse the uterus. After surgery, anti-inflammatory and hormonal therapy is prescribed.
If polyps appear in postmenopause, then there is only one treatment - removal of the uterus, since this is a huge probability of developing oncology.
Background endometrial diseases can become a precancerous situation only in advanced cases, with repeated relapses or when they manifest themselves in postmenopause, that is, only when certain situations or factors manifest themselves. In other cases, these are benign pathologies that are easy to treat and do not pose a strong threat to the woman’s body.
Precancerous diseases of the endometrium
Atypical hyperplasia is a pathology, proliferation of endometrial tissue, in which the presence of morphologically altered cells is observed.
The risk group for the disease has not yet been precisely identified, but most often these are women 45-55 years of age. Up to 30% of cases of this disease take a malignant form and develop into uterine cancer, so the disease itself is transferred to the category of precancerous.
The causes are age-related cessation of ovulation, lack of progesterone hormones and excess estrogen, disruption of ovarian function. Many diseases can provoke precancerous growth: polycystic disease and ovarian tumors, hypertension, obesity, inflammatory processes inside the uterus. As well as frequent abortions and curettage, inherited predisposition and uncontrolled use of hormones.
The main symptom of this disease is bleeding after a delay in menstruation. In 70% of cases, hyperplasia is accompanied by excess weight, and if it is not there, then frequent inflammatory diseases, endometriosis and infertility. The disease is diagnosed based on complaints using examination and ultrasound. The disease is treated with long-term therapy and hormonal medications. The prognosis of treatment depends on the woman’s age and the advanced stage of the disease. Complete healing is possible, few relapses are possible, or the pathology develops into cancer, and the only treatment in this case is removal of the reproductive organ.
Adenomatous hyperplasia is a type of hyperplasia in which the lining of the uterus grows, which may contain cancer cells, which increases the risk of developing cancer.
The symptoms and causes of development are similar to those of other types of hyperplasia. A unique symptom will be a disruption in the functioning of the adrenal glands. And new causes of development are diseases of the mammary glands and high blood pressure. It is not so rare that a disease can develop during reproductive age and be completely asymptomatic.
Treatment is carried out by removing the damaged endometrial layer and long-term hormonal therapy, as well as following diets and taking the necessary vitamins.
Adenomatous polyps are formed from glandular cells, and its transition to a malignant form directly depends on its size - the larger the polyp, the more likely it is to become a cancerous tumor.
Reasons for the growth of polyps:
- diseases of an infectious and inflammatory nature during menstrual disorders;
- surgical intervention in the uterine cavity;
- state of immunodeficiency;
- lack of vitamins E and C in the body;
- hereditary diseases of the reproductive system: uterine fibroids, oncology of the uterus, mammary glands and gastrointestinal tract;
- frequent stress and neuroses.
Symptoms of adenomatous polyps are pain in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region of a pulling nature, pain during sexual intercourse, infertility, various menstrual irregularities.
Diagnosis of such a disease is more complex and requires a general and biochemical blood test, examination of a vaginal smear, ultrasound of the uterus and curettage for examination. Treatment, as with ordinary polyps, is their removal from the uterine cavity and hormone therapy. But complications are also possible, which will be expressed by bleeding, infertility, growth of an unremoved polyp into a malignant tumor, or relapse of the disease.
After treatment, the woman is observed by doctors and undergoes ongoing research for two years to avoid relapse, which occurs in 50% of women in the first six months after treatment.
It is worth remembering that precancerous conditions of the endometrium do not always, but still often lead to uterine cancer, especially in the absence of proper treatment.
gravid endometrial hyperplasia??? what it is?
Good day to all!!! Dear girls, please tell me... what is this? There was a frozen pregnancy, a month ago, with a diagnosis: a dead fertilized egg and a non-hydatidiform mole at 6 weeks, at the 7th week I found out that the pregnancy was frozen, they cleaned it, I haven’t had an examination yet, this is the second pregnancy, the first was successful, the child is 8 years old (from his first marriage ). And then I got married a year ago, I still couldn’t get pregnant, and then this happened. Using free histology, a diagnosis is made: gravid endometrial hyperplasia? I didn’t give the embryo away for a fee, but the doctor dissuaded me and said that my tests would tell me everything. Before pregnancy, I had an ultrasound, everything was fine, I was not diagnosed with any endometriosis, although I noticed that for the last 2 years my periods were strange, without any special clots, and in small quantities, but always on time. Since I was on antibiotics after the cleansing, for the examination it is necessary that at least 3 weeks pass, the body is clean and only then go for all the tests, but while I wait, I’ll definitely go crazy with all sorts of thoughts, I’ve read a lot - that’s almost before removal uterus, and almost a precancerous condition, such horrors are written. Who has encountered this, please tell me what it is, very dangerous for health? Somewhere it is written that this diagnosis simply shows that there was a pregnancy and does not carry any informational character, thank you in advance!
Just now, Alechka*** said
