Q:
What are the causes of endometrial thickening?
A:
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Its thickness varies with a woman’s age, reproductive stage and specific point of her menstrual cycle.
In most cases, endometrium thickening is benign. However, sometimes the change may not be good. Here are some possible reasons:
- normal changes associated with the menstrual cycle
- hormonal changes during perimenopausal stage
- chronic disorders like obesity, diabetes, or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
- uterine cancer
Besides these, the following are risk factors associated with endometrial thickening, including:
- Age > 35 years
- Racial factors: white women are more likely to be affected
- Having never been pregnant
- Reaching menopause at an older age
- Early menarche (when menstruation began)
- Obesity
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, gallbladder disease, thyroid disease, or polycystic ovary syndrome
- Smoking
- Family history, such as uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or colon cancer
Since some cases of thick endometrium is normal reaction, you needn’t worry too much. In fact, you may turn to the doctor for the true causes of your symptoms.
Keywords: causes endometrial thickening
