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There are several diseases that specifically affect women. For this reason, they need to be much more aware of health problems at all times. The reason for the existence of these specific diseases is often linked to the reproductive system and the organs that compose it.
The uterus is a great example of this, as it is affected by several diseases such as endometriosis, cervical cancer, cervicitis and endometrial hyperplasia as well. About the latter, it is one of the most complex diseases and, consequently, generates more doubts in women.
And that is exactly why we are going to talk here about its main causes, symptoms and treatments. But first of all, it is necessary to understand what endometrial hyperplasia is after all.
What is Endometrial Hyperplasia?
Endometrial hyperplasia is nothing more than the enlargement of the tissue that lines a woman’s uterus, the endometrium. Often this disease appears when the woman is undergoing some type of hormonal treatment , since the causes of the disease are directly linked to the excess of estrogen.
For this reason it is important that, during this type of treatment, be attentive to the symptoms and also carry out tests to find out if there is any problem of the type.
Types of Endometrial Hyperplasia
There are 4 main types of endometrial hyperplasia. They are:
- Simple Endometrial Hyperplasia
- Endometrial Cystic Hyperplasia
- Focal Hyperplasia of the Endometrium
- Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia
We will talk about each one specifically so that you better understand how they act on a woman’s body.
Simple Endometrial Hyperplasia
It is the most common and simplest type of treatment. In this case, the thickening of the tissue happens in a less severe way, making treatment possible only with medication and medical monitoring. Such follow-up must be done between 6 months and a year in order for the disease to be completely cured.
Endometrial Cystic Hyperplasia
In severe cases, this type of hyperplasia may be related to endometrial cancer. It lines the wall of the uterus in a way that makes it look like “Swiss cheese”, with some unfilled holes.
Treatment can also be done with medications and it is necessary a medical follow-up for up to a year for the disease to be completely cured.
Focal Hyperplasia of the Endometrium
It is a type of hyperplasia whose main characteristic is the narrowing of the uterus. This is because the endometrial tissue grows in a localized way, extending through a layer.
Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia
It is the most serious type of endometrial hyperplasia. It occurs when the growth of endometrial tissue is out of control and can often be associated with endometrial cancer. Depending on the stage of the disease, removal of the uterus may be necessary.
It should be noted that, although endometrial hyperplasia is about the growth of tissue in a woman’s body, it does not mean that it is linked to some type of cancer . Hyperplasia is a benign condition, since it is only a response of the body to a hormonal stimulus, although there is a possibility that these two diseases are interconnected.
What are the Causes of Endometrial Hyperplasia?
As we said earlier, the main cause of the disease is linked to excessive estrogen exposure. This can happen in some cases, such as:
- Treatments with Hormone Drugs
- History of Ovarian Tumor
- Dysregulated Menstrual Cycle
- Hormone Replacement Therapies
It is necessary to emphasize that the disease is occurring because the body understands that it needs to replace that tissue for some reason. It is a natural response that can be balanced, especially if it is detected at the beginning. Therefore, people who fit in any of these cases need to visit a doctor and perform constant tests to avoid any more serious problems.
Main Symptoms of Endometrial Hyperplasia
We can say that the main symptoms of endometrial hyperplasia are:
- Uterine Bleeding
- Severe cramps and abdominal pain
- Increased size of the uterus
- Narrowing of the uterus
Although not all symptoms are easily detectable, attention should be paid especially to the first two, as they are a strong indicator of the disease.
Diagnosis of Endometrial Hyperplasia
The diagnosis of the disease is made mainly through imaging tests such as transvaginal ultrasound , since common gynecological tests are not able to detect endometrial hyperplasia.
With the diagnosis in hand, the doctor can check the type of hyperplasia and the level of severity, so that he can prescribe the appropriate treatment for each case.
Treatment of Endometrial Hyperplasia
The treatment of the disease varies according to the type of endometrial hyperplasia that the woman has, in addition to other factors such as age and the woman’s desire to become pregnant . Based on this information and the diagnosis, a doctor can prescribe medications that can be oral, intramuscular or even intrauterine.
Treatment can last from 6 months to a year, depending on the severity of the disease. After finishing, a doctor does a biopsy to check if he has obtained good results or not.
It is still necessary to have a six-monthly or annual follow-up to check if the disease has not returned and if everything is fine with the woman’s uterus. This follow-up is necessary so that a woman’s clinical condition does not worsen sharply and to prevent other diseases from developing.
Possible Complications
The two main complications of the disease are the increased chances of cancer of the endometrium and cervix, as well as possible problems with pregnancy. For this reason, it is ideal that the post-treatment follow-up is done correctly.
If a woman wishes to become pregnant after having a case of endometrial hyperplasia, more rigorous medical monitoring is necessary . This does not mean that a woman who has had the disease will necessarily have trouble conceiving. In fact, it is expected that these problems will not appear, however, due to medical history, it is important to have prevention.
Dealing with certain illnesses can be exhausting and even complicate a woman’s life. However, once these diseases exist, it is necessary to know exactly how they develop and what are the best ways to treat them.
Don’t forget to always have a trusted doctor around with whom you can talk and answer all your questions. Reading and researching is very important, but no one better than your doctor to answer specific questions and calm you down in relation to different aspects of women’s illnesses.
So always keep in mind that the fight against the disease does not happen alone, but together with people you trust and who help you to go through this phase.
See also: Thickened Endometrium – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
