What Causes Thick Uterine Lining And Irregular Periods?

Hallow Dear, To understand your situation, please try to learn some basic facts about the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycle comprises of four main sections: 1. Proliferative phase: Immediately after the menstrual bleeding, first phase starts. This phase is growth of the eggs and uterine lining (endometrium). Endometrium grows due to a hormone called as Oestrogen. In this phase, Oestrogen levels are ascending. This phase is usually lasts for 14 days in a cycle of 28 days. During this phase the eggs are getting matured. 2. Ovulation: This is a momentary event which happens when the egg is released form the follicle. After this event, along with the Oestrogen, another hormone - Progesterone starts appearing in the body. After ovulation, the remnants of the follicle from which the egg has been released undergo changes and is known as corpus luteum. 3. Secretary Phase: This is a period of 14 days after ovulation. In this period, the Oestrogen is growing the endometrium while the Progesterone makes secretary changes in the endometrium. These changes are for implantation and nutrition of the fertilized egg. Both these hormones are secreted by corpus luteum. 4. Menstruation: The corpus luteum has life of only 10 days after which it dies if there is no pregnancy. Thus the production of Oestrogen & Progesterone stops. Eventually the circulating hormones drop and 4 days after the death of corpus luteum, endometrium also dies and is thrown out as menstruation. Now since your uterine lining is thick, it means that you are having high levels of Oestrogen. Since you are having irregular heavy bleeding, the chances are that you are not ovulating, hence there is no Progesterone. Withdrawal bleeding of only Oestrogen is always heavy. Whenever there is only Oestrogen, usually the cycles are irregular and heavy. At the age of 36 years, thick endometrium also demands ruling out the possibility of any endometrial cancer or some changes which may proceed to become cancerous. Endometrial cancer is also Oestrogen dependant. Therefore your doctor wants to take a biopsy of the endometrium to rule out these changes. If there are no malignant or pre-malignant changes in the endometrium, you may be put on conservative line of treatment. If you have completed child bearing function, you may be put on cyclical hormonal treatment (birth control pills or similar medicines) which will minimize the amount of bleeding and will regularize the menses also. If hormonal treatment does not relieve you, you may have to undergo some surgical procedures like destruction of the endometrium or removal of the uterus. If you are aspiring for children, you may be offered treatment of Clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation which will help you getting pregnant. I feel this much information is good enough for you. For any more information or advice, you may ask me Direst question. Dr. Nishikant Shrotri