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When we think about pregnancy, we don’t even imagine how many combinations our bodies have to make for the dream to come true. The beginning of pregnancy can be a mystery to many women. So how about unraveling what happens in early pregnancy and what does the endometrium have to do with all this?
What is Endometrium
It all starts with menstruation . The endometrium of the previous cycle is discarded by the body. But what is the endometrium anyway? Endometrium is a layer that grows every cycle inside the uterus, and that will initially house the embryo. After being discarded during menstruation, it re-forms due to the influence of hormones in the next cycle.
What the Endometrium Does
The endometrium is nothing more than a thick, bloody layer inside the uterus, which houses the embryo in its early stages. The growth of the endometrium is stimulated by hormones such as progesterone and estrogen . This hormone is released by the ovaries to stimulate the growth and maturation of the follicles, so that the woman ovulates and can become pregnant.
For the endometrium to develop properly, it is important that the hormones are in balance. A good diet or the use of multivitamins such as FamiFerti can be crucial for a regulated cycle and a healthy endometrium. You can purchase it in our online store .
The endometrium is like a blood sponge inside the uterus . He is ready to receive the egg fertilized by the sperm, to nest it and keep it safe for its development until the placenta forms.
Ideal Endometrium for Pregnancy
Whoever has done preventive ultrasound probably already had a report in hand that says something about the right endometrium? It is necessary for pregnancy to happen, because it is there that the embryo fixes itself to grow and the pregnancy progresses.
But it is not in any endometrium that the baby can fixate. There is an ideal thickness for this to happen. The ideal for sheltering the baby is from 8mm . For the embryo to be able to fix properly, the endometrium needs an ideal thickness.
And when the endometrium is thin?
Thicknesses below 5mm are inappropriate for a pregnancy to happen because it does not have enough depth for the baby’s implantation . But all is not lost for those who suffer from a thin endometrium. The doctor can prescribe medications that make it thicker, and pregnancy becomes viable.
How to Make the Endometrium Thicken?
Several medications can be used to lend a helping hand. A force of nature to help the endometrium to thicken is the use of yam. It helps to stimulate the growth of the endometrium even in the pre-ovulatory phase. As the eggs mature, the endometrium also grows equally. For many it is difficult to incorporate the yam in the diet every day, so a good option are the yam capsules that you can buy here in our online store.
Another important aspect for pregnancy is the blades of the endometrium. Blades are layers that are formed by blood. A trilaminar endometrium (three layers) is ideal for a good implantation of the fetus.
The trilaminar endometrium is easily checked on a gynecological ultrasound. There are women who simply do not get pregnant because they do not have a good endometrium. They ovulate every cycle, but their thin endometrium does not support pregnancy. Therefore, ultrasound investigation is necessary.
Usually the endometrium is investigated in the ovulatory post or luteal phase , where it tends to thicken. If ovulation occurred with fertilization of the egg, it grows even more. In the ultrasound report, the information comes through the endometrial echo, which is the endometrial information.
Difficulty to Thicken the Endometrium
Women with uncontrolled estrogen find it difficult to thicken the endometrium naturally. Women with low progesterone, on the other hand, can thicken the endometrium, but have enough hormone to hold it in until the embryo is fixed. Therefore, a minimum of luteal phase days is necessary to allow time for the zygote to reach the bottom of the uterus where the endometrium is. A minimum of 12 days of luteal phase is necessary for pregnancy to happen, if the woman has an extremely short cycle, the doctor must evaluate her luteal phase and check if the progesterone is at the correct levels.
Even in the post-ovulation period, a helping hand from the ovaries is essential. The corpus luteum starts to release progesterone so that the endometrium is intact. If there is a problem with these hormones, a rebalancing with hormonal medication may be possible.
Signs of the Endometrium in Pregnancy
Sometimes the endometrium can show signs that the pregnancy is happening. Discreet bleeds such as coffee grounds , a kind of brown egg white and even a slight pinkish bleeding may appear indicating the implantation of the embryo in the endometrium.
The embryo reaches the uterus after a tube journey and then begins to settle. This process is nidation , and it means that pregnancy itself has just happened! After this implantation, the HCG hormone starts to be released and then it gradually reaches the bloodstream and urine. This is the hormone that is detected when taking a pregnancy test.
Importance of the Endometrium in Pregnancy
When we say that pregnant women do not menstruate it is because without the endometrium there is no way for the baby to survive in the early stages of pregnancy. It is he who shelters and nourishes the baby until the placenta forms. The baby needs the endometrium, that is, what becomes the menstruation blood is necessary for the pregnancy to progress healthily. There are doctors who avoid using any medication to secure the endometrium in order to help nature expel any unviable embryo for growth. It is such a natural selection.
We can summarize that:
- Good endometrium is: one with a good thickness, three-laminar and secretory.
- Endometrium suggestive of pregnancy: Between 8mm and 15mm.
- Thin endometrium: it does not have the capacity to hold the embryo.
The endometrium is necessary for pregnancy to happen. It complements ovulation and we can say that the endometrium and pregnancy are really a perfect marriage.
See also: First Symptoms of Pregnancy
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.