- Excessive bleeding, or bleeding longer than 2 days after the procedure.
- Foul-smelling drainage from your vagina.
- Fever or chills.
- Severe lower belly pain.
Can you get an infection from an endometrial biopsy?
While
an endometrial biopsy is safe
, there is a chance of bleeding and infection. The wall of your uterus could also get nicked by the tools used during the biopsy, but this is very rare.
How long does pain last after endometrial biopsy?
How will I feel after an endometrial biopsy? As above, you may have some crampy period pains in the lower part of your tummy on and off for a day or two after the procedure. You may also have some light bleeding, like a period. This does not usually last
longer than a few days
.
What percentage of endometrial biopsies are cancerous?
Many women who have symptoms of endometrial cancer (vaginal bleeding after menopause or abnormal menstrual bleeding) may have a biopsy that shows precancerous changes of the endometrium, called complex hyperplasia with atypia. Risk is high that
25 to 50 percent
of these women will go on to develop endometrial cancer.
How bad is an endometrial biopsy?
There are very few risks with endometrial biopsy. The leading risk is
pain or cramping
, but this typically subsides rapidly following the procedure. Other less common risks are: Feeling faint or light-headed.
What should I do after endometrial biopsy?
Take a pain reliever
as advised by your healthcare provider. Aspirin or certain other pain medicines may increase the chance of bleeding. Be sure to take only recommended medicines. Don't douche, use tampons, or have sex for 2 to 3 days after an endometrial biopsy, or for a time recommended by your healthcare provider.
Do endometrial biopsies hurt?
Women vary in the degree of discomfort that they feel. Most people have
mild to moderate cramping
. Some women have severe cramping during the procedure. The cramping will lessen shortly after the biopsy is finished.
What are they looking for in an endometrial biopsy?
In an endometrial biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is removed and examined under a microscope
for cancer and other cell irregularities
. The procedure helps find the cause of a woman's heavy or irregular bleeding.
What does it mean when your endometrial biopsy is benign?
An endometrial biopsy is normal when no abnormal cells or cancer is found. Results are considered abnormal when: a benign, or noncancerous, growth is present. a thickening of the endometrium, called
endometrial hyperplasia
, is present.
Should I have a hysterectomy for endometrial hyperplasia?
If you have atypical endometrial hyperplasia, your specialist will probably recommend you have a
hysterectomy
. This is an operation to remove the womb. This is to prevent you developing a cancer of the lining of the womb.
What if my endometrial biopsy is abnormal?
Your doctor may perform a
hysteroscopy with dilatation
and curettage if the results of an endometrial biopsy are inconclusive or the doctor couldn't obtain enough tissue for a biopsy. In this procedure, the doctor widens the opening of the cervix with thin, metal rods called dilators.
What is the most common age to get endometrial hyperplasia?
In our study, among women 18–90 years the overall incidence of endometrial hyperplasia was 133 per 100,000 woman-years, was most common in women
ages 50–54
, and was rarely observed in women under 30. Simple and complex hyperplasia incidences peaked in women ages 50–54.
Can you have endometrial hyperplasia without bleeding?
However, uterine fibroids, pelvic masses, or even endometrial cancer may develop
without co-morbid vaginal bleeding
. Therefore we advocate that postmenopausal women should undergo yearly screening and consultation, without waiting for an episode of vaginal bleeding.
What is the treatment for thickened endometrium?
In many cases, endometrial hyperplasia can be treated with
progestin
. Progestin is given orally, in a shot, in an intrauterine device (IUD), or as a vaginal cream. How much and how long you take it depends on your age and the type of hyperplasia. Treatment with progestin may cause vaginal bleeding like a period.
Can you be put to sleep for an endometrial biopsy?
This procedure may be done with or without anesthesia. This is medicine that allows
you to sleep during
the procedure. You lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, similar to having a pelvic exam.
Is a biopsy painful?
In a needle biopsy, you will feel a small sharp pinch at the site of the biopsy. In an open or closed biopsy that requires surgery,
you will be given anesthesia to help with the pain
. When you receive the local anesthetic to numb the skin, you will feel a slight pin prick from the needle.
