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 happens if endometrial biopsy is abnormal?
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. If you think you may be pregnant, make sure to tell your doctor ahead of time. The biopsy could
cause you to miscarry
.
What are the possible findings in an endometrial biopsy?
Biopsy results may
show cell changes linked to hormone levels
, or abnormal tissues, such as fibroids or polyps. These can lead to abnormal bleeding. Your provider can also use endometrial biopsy to check for uterine infections, such as endometritis.
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.
What does abnormal endometrial cells mean?
Endometrial hyperplasia
is a condition of the female reproductive system. The lining of the uterus (endometrium) becomes unusually thick because of having too many cells (hyperplasia). It's not cancer, but in certain women, it raises the risk of developing endometrial cancer, a type of uterine cancer.
What percentage of endometrial biopsies are cancerous?
Conclusions: In a postmenopausal woman without vaginal bleeding, if the endometrium measures > 11 mm a biopsy should be considered as the risk of cancer is
6.7%
, whereas if the endometrium measures
Why was my endometrial biopsy so painful?
It may
be painful as the tube is passed through your cervix
, and you may feel a cramping pain as the sample is being taken from the lining of the womb. It is exactly the same pain as a period, because the pain is caused by the same muscles of the uterus contracting.
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.
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 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.
How long does it take for your cervix to heal after a biopsy?
During a cone biopsy, your doctor will remove a small, cone-shaped part of your cervix. They will study it under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. It usually takes
about 4 to 6 weeks
for your cervix to heal after this procedure.
Is an endometrial biopsy the same as a D&C?
In most cases, a health care provider will first try to sample the tissue of the uterus with an office procedure called an endometrial biopsy. If an endometrial biopsy is not possible or if not enough tissue is obtained, a D&C may be needed.
Can I get anesthesia for 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.
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.
How are precancerous cells in the uterus treated?
Conization. Doctors
remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix
in a procedure called conization. They may use conization to remove precancerous tissue high up in the cervical canal, along with a border of surrounding healthy tissue, to help ensure that all of the precancerous cells have been taken out.
What does the presence of endometrial cells mean?
The presence of benign endometrial cells (BECs) on cytologic analysis has been linked to significant
endometrial disease
in women older than 50 years who are noted as postmenopausal and may have clinical symptoms such as postmenopausal bleeding.
