Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining, which thickens to potentially nourish a fertilized embryo. Endometrial hyperplasia, hormonal imbalances, medications, and cancers can affect the thickness of the uterus. A thickened uterus can indicate the presence of a tumor, while a thinner uterus is normal for postmenopausal women.
Menstruation can be simply defined as the cyclical shedding of the uterine lining along with the blood and causes changes in the thickness of the uterus. This process occurs when estrogen levels rise to help ease the process of preparing the uterine lining for pregnancy. Early in a woman’s period, the uterus begins to thicken to potentially nourish a fertilized embryo. Once the uterus has shed during menstruation, however, the uterus thins out to restart the same process. Other health conditions that can also affect the thickness of the uterus include hormonal imbalances, medications, and cancers affecting the uterus.
One of the most likely factors affecting the thickness of the uterus appears to be endometrial hyperplasia, a condition in which the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, experiences abnormal growth. Progesterone is a female hormone that helps control the growth of the uterine lining and is produced during ovulation. If these hormones are out of balance due to excessive estrogen production, the uterus can become too thick. Fat cells, for example, produce estrogen and may make overweight and obese women more likely to develop endometrial hyperplasia.
Medications and therapies such as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can also lead to excessive estrogen production and cause endometrial hyperplasia. ERT is a treatment to reduce the side effects of menopause and problems such as bone loss. When ERT is used without progesterone, however, uterine thickness does occur in some women. Conversely, one drug that can cause a thin uterus is the birth control pill. These pills work to prevent pregnancy by causing the walls of the uterus to droop or thin.
A thick uterus can also indicate the presence of a tumor in the uterus. Various types of cancer can affect uterine thickness, including benign tumors known as fibroids. Fibroid tumors are quite common in women and can be harmless. Larger growths, however, can be extremely painful and may require treatment. Symptoms associated with uterine fibroids include heavy bleeding during periods, spotting between periods, and a feeling of pressure in the rectum or uterus. In postmenopausal women, the presence of a thickened uterus along with abnormal bleeding can also be a sign of cancer.
The thickness of the uterus is also thought to be slightly thinner for postmenopausal women. This is usually associated with the fact that estrogen levels are generally stable and the uterus is no longer active. The presence of vaginal bleeding along with the thickness of the uterus in the postmenopausal woman, however, could indicate cancer of the uterus.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
