What is endometrial thickening?

The uterine wall is a layer of the uterine cavity, which is divided into three layers: high-density layer, spongy layer and dermis. The surface 2/3 of the endometrium is a high-density layer and a spongy layer, collectively known as the functional layer, which falls off due to cyclic changes caused by the influence of ovarian estrogen. The dermis is the 1/3 endometrium close to the myometrium, which is not affected by uterine and ovarian estrogen and does not undergo regular changes.

The uterine wall is a layer of the uterine cavity, which is divided into three layers: high-density layer, spongy layer and dermis. The surface 2/3 of the endometrium is a high-density layer and a spongy layer, collectively known as the functional layer, which falls off due to cyclic changes caused by the influence of ovarian estrogen. The dermis is the 1/3 endometrium close to the myometrium, which is not affected by uterine and ovarian estrogen and does not undergo regular changes.

The uterine wall responds to both estrogen and oestrogen. Therefore, under the control of ovarian hormone, the uterine wall of pregnant women will change with the changes in the sexual cycle, going through a process of "growth-thickening-falling-softening".

Generally speaking, color Doppler ultrasound examination immediately after the end of menstruation can determine the thickness of the uterine wall. Too thin is not good, and too thick is not good either. Under normal circumstances, the thickness of the endometrium is less than 5mm. With the stimulation of ovarian estrogen, the endometrium thickens and reaches about 8mm before ovulation. After ovulation, the uterus and ovaries metabolize estrogen, causing the endometrium to thicken again, reaching 14-16mm before menstruation. The thickness of the uterine wall of some female friends is slightly thicker, which is normal.

Thickening of the endometrium

The key causes of endometrial thickening are: endogenous estrogen, exogenous estrogen

1. Endogenous estrogen causes: anovulation (pubertal girls, perimenopausal women, imbalance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-uterine-ovarian axis, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc., with or without ovulation, the uterine wall is continuously affected by estrogen), obesity (body fat is converted into estrogen for a long time), endocrine multifunctional tumors (such as abnormal gonadotropin action of the pituitary gland, uterine ovarian granulosa cell tumors continuously metabolize estrogen)

2. Caused by exogenous estrogen: Estrogen replacement therapy (women in menopause or postmenopause, estrogen deficiency, menopausal syndrome, combined with osteoporosis, abnormal blood sugar metabolism, etc., long-term oral administration of drugs containing estrogen will stimulate endometrial thickening), long-term oral administration of tamoxifen can also cause endometrial hyperplasia and thickening.