- Abnormal Smear
- Abnormalities of the Uterus
- Abnormalities of the Vagina
- Adenomyosis
- Amenorrhea
- Atrophic Vaginitis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Barrier Contraception
- Bartholins Cysts
- Caesarean Section
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Screening
- Childbirth
- Chlamydia
- Clitoral Hoodectomy
- Colposcopy
- Colposcopy
- Contraceptive Pill
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Dyspareunia
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometrial Hyperplasia
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Gonorrhoea
- Heavy Periods
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hymenoplasty
- Hysterectomy
- Incontinence
- Incontinence
- Infertility
- Intrauterine Devices
- Labial Reduction
- Loss Of Libido
- Menorrhagia
- Menstrual Disorders
- Miscarriage
- Natural Family Planning
- Oligomenorrhoea
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Restoration
- Perineoplasty
- Polycystic Ovaries
- Polymenorrhoea
- Post-Coital Bleeding
- Pregnancy Scanning
- Premature Menopause
- Progesterone Contraceptive Pill
- Pruritus Vulva
- Sterilisation
- Syphilis
- The Wart Virus
- Thrush
- Treatment for CIN
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Prolapse
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Cysts
- Vaginal Discharge
- Vaginal Infections
- Vaginal Prolapse
- Vaginal Tightening
- Vulva Cancer
- Vulval Anatomy
- Vulval Dystrophy
- Vulvodynia
- Well Women Checks
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition that involves the cells in the lining of the uterus multiplying at a higher rate than usual, as a result of increased production of oestrogen, and not enough progesterone to regulate the oestrogen. Many conditions can cause this to happen, and it must be treated as soon as possible or it may result in endometrial cancer.
Oestrogen causes the tissues involved in the female reproductive system to rebuild, as a way of repairing the tissue. When the tissue does not need rebuilding, progesterone is released to counteract the oestrogen, and prevent it from creating more cells unnecessarily. A number of conditions can cause the body to produce more oestrogen than is necessary, often too much for the progesterone to counteract. Women with polycystic ovaries may experience endometrial hyperplasia, as this condition causes increased production of oestrogen.
Certain tumours can cause more oestrogen to be produced in a woman’s body, and women undergoing hormonal replacement therapy can also suffer from this condition. Many women who have gone through menopause will take artificial oestrogen, as their body will no longer produce this hormone in as vast quantities as it used to. But the body will also no longer produce progesterone, so the artificial oestrogen will be unregulated, and can cause problems.
In many cases of endometrial hyperplasia, the cells that are produced will be normal and may not develop into cancer. It is usually when the new cells are abnormal that cancer may occur. Women complaining to their GP or gynaecologist of blood being produced from their vagina will have a smear test performed. If the cells being produced are abnormal, this will show on the test and the woman will have to return for further screening. A small biopsy of the endometrium will be taken and studied. This small piece of tissue will determine whether the patient is suffering from endometrial hyperplasia or not.
Endometrial hyperplasia can result in endometrial cancer; therefore it is extremely important that it is treated as soon as possible. A hysterectomy will cure the problem by removing the area that has been affected. But this is not ideal for women who want to have children; so many women will be placed on hormonal therapies to regulate the amount of oestrogen in their bodies. By taking artificial progesterone, the body will produce less oestrogen and cells will multiply at a lower rate.