Why does thin endometrium appear? Thin endometrium: causes and treatments

The mucous layer of the uterus that lines it from the inside is called the endometrium. It undergoes a number of changes regarding its thickness and structure during certain phases of the cycle, which is due to the physiological need to create conditions for an egg ready for fertilization. Any deviation from the norm in the state of the endometrium leads to problems with conception and gestation. Too thin endometrium and pregnancy is a difficult combination, since the pathological condition of the endometrium in the form of its thinning causes problems with the successful fixation of the fetal egg, but even if this succeeds, carrying such a pregnancy is unlikely.

On certain days of the cycle, the thickness of the endometrium varies from 5 to 10 mm, before the onset of menstruation it increases to 1.5 cm. The thickness of 7 mm is considered the norm for reliable strengthening of the egg. In the case when the thickness of the endometrial layer is fixed in a woman at a level lower than 0.5 cm, they speak of the pathology of hypoplasia (thinning) of the endometrium, which negatively affects the ability to become pregnant and bear a baby.

Causes of the pathology of the thin endometrial layer

Predisposing factors that contribute to the thinning of the endometrial layer include:

deviations of hormonal function, endocrine disruptions;
impaired blood supply to the uterine layers;
inflammatory diseases of the genital area;
incorrect use of contraceptives;
transferred manipulations in the uterus (curettage, abortion);
hereditary predisposition to underdevelopment of the uterine epithelium.

The course of the pathology of hypoplasia does not differ in the severity of symptoms, so it is often diagnosed when examining women who have problems with conception and bearing. Symptoms can be in the form of scanty, painful periods, cycle failures, the presence of menstrual clots. But if a woman has no plans related to pregnancy, then she may not suspect that she has a pathology.

Possibility of pregnancy

With a thin endometrium, as a rule, women are diagnosed with "infertility". This is due to the fact that the endometrium 3 or 4 mm thick does not allow the egg to be firmly established in the uterus. Implantation will be successful with a thickness of more than 5 mm, the best thickness is 7 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm. It is important to consider that the indicated thickness of the endometrial layer is considered normal only on certain days of the cycle. It will be the smallest immediately after menstruation, on average, the norm is 5-7 mm, in some women it may be less than 2-3 mm, which is thinner than the norm.

The graph of the linear dependence of the thickness of the endometrium on the days of the cycle looks like this on average:

1 phase, initial proliferation (5-7 days) - from 2 to 6 mm, average 0.5 mm;

Phase 2, average proliferation (8-10 days) - from 4 to 9 mm, average endometrium 8 mm;

3 phase, late proliferation (11-14 days) - from 8 to 14 mm, average 0.11 cm;

4 phase, early secretion (15-18 days) - 10-15 mm, average 12.5 mm;

5 phase, average secretion (19-23 days) - the maximum thickness of the endometrium, on average it can be 16 mm;

Phase 6, late secretion (24-27 days of the cycle) - the endometrial layer becomes thinner, up to 0.11 cm.

The problem of thinning of the endometrial uterine layer worries women who are just planning to conceive, as well as those patients who are faced with spontaneous abortion. They are interested in whether it is possible to get pregnant when they have a thin layer of the endometrium, how thick is enough for pregnancy.

Each organism is individual, the natural process of conception is complex and depends on many factors, so the onset of pregnancy if a woman has a thin endometrium is quite real. Another question is that the developed pathology of hypoplasia can interrupt it at an early stage. Sometimes pregnant women, when very little time has passed since conception, menstruation occurs, and they even suspect that an abortion has occurred.

If the process of fertilization of the egg was successful, then it is implanted in the mucous layer. At the same time, the endometrial layer continues to increase its thickness. During the first trimester, it can reach 2 cm or more.

The endometrium during ectopic pregnancy also tends to grow. Regardless of whether the fetal egg is normally fixed in the thickness of the uterus, or, for various reasons, its progress into the uterus was disrupted, and it remained in the fallopian tube, there is an increase in the endometrial layer. This is due to the action of hormones that affect the endometrium, preparing it for the formation of the placenta with the further development of pregnancy.

Many people ask: In gynecological practice, there have been cases when pregnancy occurred in patients with an endometrial thickness of only about 4 mm. With diagnosed hypoplasia, it is important for specialists to carefully monitor the state of the endometrial layer in the event of pregnancy, since there is always a threat of miscarriage, which must be prevented in time.

A separate discussion deserves consideration of the appropriateness of the IVF procedure for endometrial hypoplasia. Opportunities for the egg to be fixed during artificial insemination are minimal if the endometrial layer is small and its thickness does not exceed 0.5 cm on favorable days. The percentage of successful implantations is less than 15%. Patients are advised to postpone IVF preparation and undergo a course of treatment in order to build up the endometrium of 7-9 mm in thickness.

Diagnosis and treatment measures

After considering the complaints made by the patient, collecting an anamnesis, the woman is recommended to undergo a series of examinations.

Appoint:

take blood and urine samples for general tests;

conducting tests to establish hormone levels;

conducting transvaginal ultrasound, which determines the state of the uterus and ovaries in different phases of the menstrual cycle;

taking a sample from the uterine layer for histology;

Therapeutic measures to eliminate hypoplasia are a whole range of procedures aimed at eliminating hormonal imbalance, improving blood circulation in the uterine layers, eliminating the consequences of chronic inflammatory processes, which are carried out with the help of medications and surgical interventions.

Therapy with hormonal agents, the scheme of their administration and dosage is performed only by an experienced specialist based on the results of a comprehensive examination. With the help of physiotherapy, hirudotherapy, acupuncture, special gymnastic exercises, it is possible to improve the blood supply to the pelvic organs, which will positively affect the state of the uterine layers. The above methods of treatment can improve the condition of the uterine layer when the endometrium grows 6 mm or more.

Some cases of pathology require a surgical method of treatment when the pathological layer is removed, which contributes to its complete renewal and stabilization of its normal thickness.

The normal functioning of the uterine layers and the balance of hormones are the key to a good pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.

The endometrium is sensitive to the hormonal background of a woman, and it is this feature that affects its size. The endometrium becomes noticeably thicker, enriched with glands that provide improved blood supply to the tissue in the last, premenstrual phase of the cycle. This ensures successful - that is, ensures the possibility of conception.

Why do we need the endometrium, what should it be?

Endometrium is called lining inside the uterus. It is a system that consists of many components, in particular:

Epithelium - integumentary and glandular;
blood vessels;
stroma - supporting, connective tissue, which during menstruation develops into mature cells that produce collagen and a number of other substances.

Creating favorable conditions for the attachment and development of the embryo in the uterus is the main function of the endometrium. If conception occurs, the number of blood vessels and glands begins to grow in the endometrium in order to:

Vessels of the endometrium have become part of the placenta;
Oxygen was delivered to the developing fetus;
Provided nutrients to the embryo.

Endometrial thickness for conception and pregnancy

So, we found out that the endometrium is one of the important elements of conception. The chance of getting pregnant depends on:

Thickness and structure of the endometrium;
Successfully reaching the desired threshold of maturity superficial glands of the endometrium.

It is these moments that ensure, in fact, the attachment of the fetal egg to the walls of the uterus and the beginning of its development into an embryo.

The maturation of the endometrium depends on estradiol- a hormone produced during the proper development of follicles.

Estradiol provides:

maturation of the endometrium;
Accumulation of progesterone receptors - another important hormone - in the epithelial tissue of the endometrium.

Pregnancy will not occur if, for some reason, the endometrium does not mature. Reasons for such problems include:

congenital conditions in which the production of the necessary hormones is insufficient or absent;
Hormonal- if for some reason the hormonal background of a woman does not allow the endometrium to reach the desired phase of development at the right time (thin endometrium);
Circulatory disorders in the uterus- congenital or acquired. Similar problems can arise after injuries, inflammations, diseases of the uterus and adjacent organs, as well as in;
Injury to the endometrium itself- usually resulting from an abortion. Complete removal of the endometrium during active curettage is extremely rare, but even partial removal of this layer makes pregnancy very difficult.

Depending on the causes of the violation in the maturation and development of the endometrium, the doctor prescribes certain drugs. And traditional medicine knows its own ways to help cope with this problem.

Effective ways to build up the endometrium: drugs

For the rapid build-up of the endometrium, as a rule, use medications. It should be noted that the thin endometrium is difficult to treat.

Since the build-up of the endometrium directly depends on estrogen, respectively, it is prescribed:

Hormonal treatment: as a rule, these are injections of estradiol, divigel.
Drops "Gormel"- a homeopathic remedy that is used to regulate the hormonal conditions of a woman. Its action is aimed at enhancing the production of estrogen. The effect of the drug is quite mild and effective.

It is believed that drugs such as "Duphaston" and "Utrozhestan" build up the endometrium. This is not true. These drugs help the endometrium to form and mature. These drugs contain progesterone: "Duphaston" consists of synthesized progesterone and has no side effects, "Utrozhestan" is natural.

Folk ways to quickly build up the endometrium

Can help build up the endometrium Alternative medicine:

These methods are considered effective by improving blood circulation in the pelvic organs.

Women often use folk remedies to increase the thickness of the endometrium.

Remember, self-treatment and self-diagnosis can lead to irreparable consequences. Before taking any drug or herb - consult a doctor. Herbs sometimes have no less powerful effect than drugs.

The site site warns: the recipes given here do not replace medical treatment and do not cancel a trip to the doctor. Use all the tips presented only after examination and on the recommendation of a doctor!

The endometrium, which covers the inside of the body of the uterus, plays an extremely important role in the ability of women to perform their childbearing function. However, a small endometrium is often diagnosed, which is an obstacle to pregnancy. There are several methods of treatment that will help build up the lining of the uterus and find the joy of motherhood. You can read more about all this in our article.

The endometrium consists of a basal and functional layer. Its main role is to create the most comfortable conditions for fixing a fertilized egg in the cavity of the uterine body and further development of the fetus. If fertilization does not take place, the functional layer is sloughed off and excreted from the body through a process known as menstruation.

Thanks to the basal layer, it is restored. This is repeated monthly every menstrual cycle until menopause occurs. But the endometrium will be able to perform its function only if the thickness of the upper mucous layer meets certain standards in different phases of the menstrual cycle.

On medical sites, you can find a table that indicates the optimal size of the functional layer of the endometrium in one or another phase of the cycle. If the thickness of the endometrium is less than normal, pregnancy is either impossible at all, or big problems arise with its onset. In this case, hypoplasia is diagnosed and treatment is prescribed, which depends on the causes that led to this pathology.

Thin endometrium: causes

Why can't the top layer of the endometrium grow? This phenomenon can be influenced by many factors, the main of which are:

malfunctions of the hormonal or endocrine system;
violation of the blood supply to the uterus of an acquired or congenital nature;
trauma to the mucous membrane, which is the result of surgery (for example, curettage or abortion);
frequent inflammatory processes caused by infection.

The reasons for the small layer of the endometrium are sometimes hidden in the underdevelopment of the uterus. According to some scientists, the causes of thin endometrium may be hereditary.

Thin endometrium and pregnancy

In the presence of an ailment characterized by a thin layer of the endometrium, the ability to get pregnant and carry a baby is very problematic. Even if you manage to get pregnant with such a disease, there is a great danger of miscarriage. After all, it is the endometrium that is both the “protector” and the “breadwinner” of the embryo at the very first stage of its development.

And although a small endometrium is not a sentence of pregnancy, it is still better to build it up first, and then plan to conceive. Fortunately, modern medicine and folk recipes provide great opportunities for this.

how to grow endometrium

If, on the basis of various studies and analyzes, a thin endometrium is diagnosed, before proceeding directly to treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence. To build up a small endometrium in case of hormonal disorders, drugs containing progesterone are used, such as, for example, Duphaston.

If hypoplasia is a consequence of a chronic inflammatory process of the genital organs, we must first take care not how to increase the thickness of the upper layer of the endometrium, but how to eliminate the cause of its occurrence. When the problem of pathology is insufficient uterine blood supply, in order to build up the endometrium, along with drugs, non-drug treatments are used, such as:

healthy food,
massage,
special therapeutic exercises.

You can build up the endometrium without hormones, using herbs and such folk recipes and alternative medicine methods as.

Violations in the work of the reproductive system are extremely common in modern medical practice. And today, many women are interested in: what is the danger of thin endometrium? The reasons for such a violation can be very different. And a patient with such a diagnosis needs help.

Thin endometrium: what does it mean?

As you know, the endometrium is the inner layer that lines the uterus. Its role in reproductive function is extremely important. The endometrium itself also consists of two parts. The bottom layer is represented by basal cells, which remain unchanged. The upper part is functional - it is she who is responsible for the implantation of a fertilized egg and the further development of the embryo until the formation of a full-fledged placenta. The top layer grows every month. If fertilization does not occur, the tissues are torn off under the influence of hormones and come out during menstruation. In order for a woman to become pregnant, the thickness of the endometrium must be at least seven millimeters. However, today often the representatives of the weaker sex are faced with the diagnosis of "thin endometrium". The causes and signs of such a violation are of interest to many patients. After all, as you know, a thinned functional layer often causes infertility.

Thin endometrium: causes of pathology

Such a violation can be the result of various factors:

Since the development and maturation of the functional layer of the inner lining of the uterus occurs under the influence of hormones, it is hormonal disruptions that most often cause thinning.
Frequent abortions can lead to the same consequences. First, scraping leads to damage to the upper tissues. Secondly, an interrupted pregnancy is a huge stress for the body, which is associated with the same hormonal disruptions.
The risk group includes women with chronic diseases of the reproductive system.
There are other factors that can result in a thin endometrium. The reasons often lie in the violation of the blood supply to the uterus. With a lack of blood circulation, tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to grow.

Thin endometrium and pregnancy

If the endometrium is underdeveloped, then the chances of getting pregnant are sharply reduced. It is this pathology that often causes a woman's infertility. In some cases, fertilization and implantation can occur. But the thinned functional layer of the uterus increases the risk of spontaneous abortion. Fortunately, modern medicine offers highly successful treatments.

Thin endometrium: treatment

First of all, it is necessary to conduct additional studies and find out what exactly caused such a violation - the choice of therapy depends on this. For example, in case of hormonal failures, the problem is quite easily eliminated by taking progesterone hormonal preparations. If the thin endometrium is the result of chronic inflammation in the small pelvis, then, of course, this is the primary disease that must first be cured. And in case of insufficient blood supply, in addition to special medicines, they recommend proper nutrition, massage and special therapeutic exercises, which enhance blood circulation. Some methods of alternative medicine, in particular, treatment with leeches and acupuncture, are also considered very effective.

A woman is diagnosed with hypoplasia when she has a thin endometrium. Treatment of such a disease is prescribed based on the factors that could lead to it.

What are the causes of thin endometrium, what is the danger of this disease, and how to deal with it? We propose to understand these issues in more detail.

The term "hypoplasia" in medicine refers to the underdevelopment of any tissue or organism as a whole. If we talk about the uterine mucosa, then this definition indicates that a woman has a very thin endometrium - her upper mucous layer.

Why is the thin endometrium of the uterus dangerous?

The endometrium lining the uterus plays a very important role in the reproductive function of the female body. This layer consists of 2 parts. The lower one is basal cells that do not change with the change in hormonal status. The upper layer is functional and is responsible for the implantation of a fertilized egg, as well as for the development of the embryo in the future until the full formation of the placenta, which provides the fetus with nutrients and oxygen. Indeed, at the initial stages of pregnancy, it is in it that the glands and blood vessels develop, which subsequently form part of the placenta. Every month it grows, and in case of non-pregnancy, under the influence of hormones, it is rejected and comes out along with menstrual blood. The thin endometrium of the uterus in women of reproductive age can often cause infertility and miscarriage.

Thin endometrium: causes

There are several factors that provoke thinning of the upper mucous layer of the uterus. Among the main ones are:

hormonal and endocrine disruptions in the body are the main reason that the endometrium is thin;
congenital and acquired disorders in the blood supply to the uterus;
endometrial injury, which can occur during surgical interventions in the uterine cavity (abortion, curettage, etc.);
underdevelopment of the uterus;
frequent processes of an infectious nature in the uterus.

There is also an opinion that thin endometrium may be hereditary in nature, but this assumption does not have sufficient evidence.

Thin endometrium and pregnancy

With a pathology such as thin endometrium, pregnancy is difficult. The chances of conception are significantly reduced. And even if fertilization and implantation of the embryo occur, there is a high probability of spontaneous abortion - miscarriage. Fortunately, modern methods of treatment very successfully help to eliminate this pathology.

Normal thickness of the uterine endometrium

As already mentioned, during the cycle of menstruation, the thickness of the endometrium changes. There are graphs that help determine its rate at a certain phase of the cycle:

1-2 days - 0.5-0.9 cm;
3-4 days - 0.3-0.5 cm;
5-7 day - 0.6-0.9 cm;
8-10 days - 0.8-1.0 cm;
11-14 days - 0.9-1.3 cm;
15-18 days - 1.0-1.3 cm;
19-23 days - 1.0-1.4 cm;
24-27 days - 1.0-1.3 cm.

In order to exclude such a pathology as the thin endometrium of the uterus, ultrasound is used, which is carried out several times per cycle. Also informative in this case are blood tests for progesterone, as well as luteotropic and follicle-stimulating sex hormones (LH and FSH). The sampling of material for research is carried out on the 20-22nd day from the onset of menstruation. For a more accurate result, a uterine biopsy may be used.

Thin endometrium: treatment

When analyzes and studies have confirmed that the endometrium is thin, treatment is prescribed depending on the causes that provoked this violation. For example, in the case of a hormonal imbalance, a woman is prescribed drugs that include the hormone progesterone. So very effective in the diagnosis of thin endometrium is Duphaston, the active substance of which is dydrogesterone, an analogue of natural progesterone.

If endometrial hypoplasia arose as a result of chronic inflammation of the pelvic organs, the primary disease must first be eliminated. In cases of inadequate blood supply to the uterus, along with medications, special therapeutic exercises, massages and proper diet are indicated. There are also folk recipes that help overcome the problem of thinning of the endometrium, but they can only be used on the recommendation of the attending doctor.

The forum on the site may tell you about the problems associated with the diagnosis of thin endometrium. But the treatment of this disease should be prescribed only by a doctor, based on the results of the studies.