thickening of the uterus lining

I am a 47 yr old woman.  I have not missed a period yet.  I've been bleeding for almost 4 wks now.  My gyn doc diagnosed me with a thick lining in the uterus.  My gyn performed an edometrosis biopsy and found a polyp.  The biopsy's result will be back within a wk.  She concluded that the current bleedidng is not a period, but the polyp's bleeding.  It was a light bleeding but after the biopsy now is heavier. Why?  I am having cramping all the time.  Can you tell me about the thickening of the uterus' lining and if any statistics to cancer or just a benign condition?

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

Sounds like you are getting great care.  

Irregular bleeding in a woman your age may be the result of thyroid hormone changes, anovulation associated with the perimenopause, uterine polyps, or abnormal tissue in the uterus.The biopsy results will determine whether you have a nl uterine lining, precancerous changes or cancer.  Risk factors for cancer include obesity, hypertension and anovulation (not ovulating).

Once the biopsy results are back your doctor can determine how best to proceed.

If you are bleeding from a polyp it is unlikely it was removed entirely by the biopsy, which may explain while you are still bleeding.  

Best regards,

Dr. Downing