Thickness of endometrium: norm and value

Endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus, the membrane that feeds it through its own blood vessels.

Endometrium can change, and these changes can be both pathological and physiological. With changes in the endometrium, the norm is determined based on certain conditions.

Endometrium consists of two layers: the first layer is represented by epithelial cells, and the second layer consists of glandular cells. Under the layer of the endometrium is located the muscular membrane, or myometrium, from which the blood vessels leave, spreading blood throughout the endometrium.

The normal thickness of the endometrium depends on the day of the cycle. The closer to the day of ovulation, the greater the thickness of the endometrium becomes: the norm for the 14th day of the cycle is 13-14 mm.

Every day, there are cyclical changes in the endometrium, which normally indicate a normal reproductive health of a woman. A healthy woman every month rejects the upper layer of the endometrium, which causes menstrual bleeding. By the end of menstruation, the upper layer completely flakes, and the endometrium becomes quite thin.

The time when the thickness of the endometrium reaches its maximum volume is the next few days after ovulation. At this time, the endometrium is ready to receive a fertilized egg.

But often women are faced with pathological changes in the endometrium, the norm of the thickness of its layer is much distorted. With glandular hyperplasia, the endometrium is significantly hypertrophied, which often leads to intermenstrual bleeding. The thickness of the endometrium can reach 20 mm.

With hyperplasia, the endometrium cells proliferate. In some cases (5-15%), hyperplasia turns into endometrial cancer.

Causes of endometrial hyperplasia

As a result of hormonal disorders, endometrial hyperplasia can develop . In this case, the thickness of the endometrium, whose norm should not exceed 14 mm, significantly increases. Hyperplasia is characteristic of cystically altered ovaries.

Also, the appearance of hyperplasia is affected by the amount of hormones produced by the body of a woman, namely estrogens. With an elevated level of estrogen, there is no ovulation.

Symptoms of hyperplasia:

1. After the next delay of menstruation, uterine bleeding occurs. They appear in the form of prolonged bleeding, but with moderate blood loss, or vice versa - a lot of blood loss may occur in a few days.

2. Spotting between menstruation.

3. Primary or secondary infertility.

4. Irregular menstruation.

Treatment of endometrial hyperplasia

Since hyperplasia is a hormonal disease, the treatment should also be hormonal preparations. The main goal of treatment is to prevent uterine bleeding. If the risk of hyperplasia into a cancer has been identified during the examination, the treatment is performed by a gynecologist-oncologist.

If certain signs are found, it is necessary to urgently contact a doctor who will prescribe the treatment in time, which will reduce the risk of complications.