A woman’s body is as complex as it is sensitive, but fascinating. Let’s talk about one of the parts of the women’s reproductive organs, their function, and the conditions that can affect it.
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus, also called the womb (the hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman’s pelvis that houses the fetus and supports its growth and development throughout the pregnancy). The endometrium plays a vital role during menstruation and pregnancy.
The uterus is made up of three layers;
-the serosa, the outer layer of the uterus, releases a watery fluid that helps prevent abrasion between the uterus and other organs.
-the myometrium is the middle and thickest layer of the uterus. It is composed of thick and smooth muscle tissue. This muscle tissue, called the myometrium, expands during pregnancy to accommodate the fetus as it grows and contracts during labour to aid the baby’s delivery.
-the endometrium, which is the inner lining of the uterus. It is mainly a mass of mucosal lining which changes in thickness throughout the menstrual cycle. This, itself, has two layers, which are
- Stratum basalis; this layer is attached to the myometrium (layer of smooth muscle tissue of the uterus)
- The stratum functional (functional layer): this layer is shed during menstruation and regrows during each cycle; it changes in response to the monthly flux of the hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that are responsible for the menstrual cycle and also the implantation of a fertilized egg when conception happens
The endometrium prepares for pregnancy every month when it becomes thickened and enriched with blood to receive a fertilized egg and support the placenta.
However, if this doesn’t happen, the buildup of blood vessels and tissues that thicken the endometrium becomes unnecessary and is shed. This is what we experience as our period.
What are the possible conditions that may affect the endometrium?
Endometriosis: when tissues similar to the endometrium tissues begin to grow outside the uterus, it becomes a problem.
It is often accompanied by severely painful menstrual periods(which may include nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue), painful sex, fertility problems, pain during bowel movements and urination, heavy menstrual bleeding, or bleeding between periods.
It may be mistaken for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or ovarian cysts and may result in infertility and cancer. Luckily, there are effective treatments.
People who are at risk of these conditions are people who
- They started their periods at a relatively early age
- Short menstrual cycles of less than 27 days
- Higher level of estrogen in the body
- Hereditary
- Certain medical conditions that prevent the flow of blood from the body during menstruation
- Reproductive tract disorders
Endometrial hyperplasia tends to affect women during or after menopause. It is the thickening of the endometrial lining because of the production of too many cells (also called hyperplasia).
It raises the risk of endometrial and uterine cancer in many women. Other risk factors include; diabetes, hormone therapy, smoking, and obesity, among others.
Ashermans syndrome: occurs when scar tissues build up inside the uterus, thereby decreasing the amount of open space in the uterus. Some risk factors of this condition are
a) trauma to the uterus through the dilatation and curettage (commonly known as D&C)
b) cesarean section if an infection happens during the procedure. This operation alone cannot cause Asherman’s syndrome.
C) radiation treatment for cancers like cervical cancer.
Adenomyosis occurs when the endometrium grows into the myometrium and is accompanied by painful periods. It is sometimes called uterine endometriosis.
As we always advise, please see a doctor when you begin to have unusual symptoms, especially during your period. Not everything should be treated at home to prevent little complications that may become life-threatening.
The process of treatment can be emotionally draining. We believe that the process will be more straightforward with support and care.
