Menopause question

I had an ultrasound done and the doctor told me that I had Endometrial Thickening. What exactly does this mean? I have read that it can turn in to cancer. Is this true and please explain. Thanks

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

The uterine lining is called the endometrium. Each month during a woman's reproductive career the lining builds up and if there isn't a pregnancy, the lining sheds which is the woman's menstrual period. After menopause, hormone levels are low and the lining becomes thin, 4mm or less. If a woman has a uterus and is placed on estrogen, the lining will thicken and over time, maybe 10 years it can turn into cancer. That is why women who have a uterus and who take estrogen must also take progesterone. The progesterone makes the lining shed or become thin.

If you are in menopause and have a thick uterine lining, your doctor might want to check the lining with an office procedure called an endometrial biopsy. It causes mild cramping and takes only a few minutes. A thin instrument is placed into the uterus and a few cells scraped out to be viewed by a pathologist under a microscope. Sometimes a D & C is done. That involves anesthesia in the operating room and scrapes the entire lining. It is more accurate. Depending on the results, a person may need no treatment, hormonal treatment or surgery. If there is a problem and it is caught early, whatever the problem, it usually can be cured.
Machelle Seibel, MD