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Menopause (Expert Forum)
Uterine cancer!
Answered by
Machelle Seibel, MD - Women's Health, menopause, ReproductiveMedicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
MA
Questions in the Menopause forum are answered by Dr. Machelle Seibel. Topics covered include menopause issues, depression, hormone replacement therapy , hot flashes, joint or muscle problems, memory problems, mood swings, osteoporosis , sexual problems, skin changes, sleeping problems, vaginal problems, and weight problems.
Uterine cancer!
by NY Yankee fan, May 08, 2006 12:00AM
In a previous post you answered that a buildup of the lining can lead to uterine cancer...why is this? What are the reasons for this to happen? Why can't one have a period after menopause? My OB/GYN stated that the cervix closes when there is no shedding of the lining and there should be no more bleeding unless there is pressure up inside causing bleeding to occur. Of course this causes concerns stated in another post that was answered. I just find it hard to understand that you can have bleeding from excess estrogen during nemopause but you can't have bleeding due to the cervix being closed. Please explain.
Doctor's Answer
by Machelle Seibel, MD, May 08, 2006 12:00AM
, May 08, 2006 12:00AM
A. Estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to increase in thickness. This happens in nature to prepare the lining of the uterus to receive an egg and allow it to implant and grow. But during the reproductive years, progesterone is also produced and that stops the lining form building up to high. If one doesn’t get pregnant, the lining sheds, one has a period, and the process starts all over again.
After menopause, if there is continued estrogen without progesterone to stop it from building up too high, the cells of the uterine lining continue to get taller and thicker and over a time period of almost a decade, can turn into cancer. It is a slow process and usually there are precancer changes first and some bleeding also happens as the lining gets too tall and thick to remain attached to the uterine wall. Some sheds as bleeding. After menopause, if one is given estrogen every day and progesterone for two weeks of each month, you will have periods in menopause for as long as you are on the hormones. The cervix doesn’t close. If one gets estrogen it will stay pretty much as it was before menopause. If one doesn’t get estrogen it will narrow but usually not close. That is why bleeding is a sign of a possible cancer in menopause and has to be evaluated. The good news is if people act early, it can usually be found in plenty of time for a cure.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
After menopause, if there is continued estrogen without progesterone to stop it from building up too high, the cells of the uterine lining continue to get taller and thicker and over a time period of almost a decade, can turn into cancer. It is a slow process and usually there are precancer changes first and some bleeding also happens as the lining gets too tall and thick to remain attached to the uterine wall. Some sheds as bleeding. After menopause, if one is given estrogen every day and progesterone for two weeks of each month, you will have periods in menopause for as long as you are on the hormones. The cervix doesn’t close. If one gets estrogen it will stay pretty much as it was before menopause. If one doesn’t get estrogen it will narrow but usually not close. That is why bleeding is a sign of a possible cancer in menopause and has to be evaluated. The good news is if people act early, it can usually be found in plenty of time for a cure.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
