Is the endometrial thickness of 12mm serious?

If the thickness of the endometrium is found to be 12mm during examination, it should be taken seriously. As long as it does not increase again, no treatment measures should be taken. However, if this situation becomes more and more serious, timely treatment should be sought, because the thickening of the endometrium will affect the successful implantation of the fertilized egg, which will naturally make it impossible for female friends to conceive successfully.

The endometrium is the mucous membrane covering the uterine cavity and is the most differentiated tissue in the human body. The thickness of normal endometrium generally changes with the menstrual cycle and is not constant.

The specific numbers are: 1. Menstrual period: the functional layer of the endometrium falls off and the basal layer remains. 2. Proliferative phase: The endometrium thickness reaches 1-3mm during the 6th to 14th day of menstruation. 3. Secretory phase: The endometrium thickness reaches 5-7mm during the 15th to 28th day of menstruation.

The menstrual cycle is mainly regulated by ovarian hormones. If the ovarian hormones are disordered, it will inevitably cause menstrual disorders and the endometrium will also have corresponding morphological changes. Changes in the endometrium caused by various reasons are mainly manifested clinically as amenorrhea and "functional uterine bleeding". You need to go to a specialist hospital for treatment in time.

Proliferative phase

In the early stage of hyperplasia, the endometrium appears as a thin echo line, about 4-6 mm thick. In the middle stage of hyperplasia, the endometrium gradually shows three strong echo lines, and the low echo area in between is two layers of functional endometrium with a thickness of about 8-10mm. In the late stage of hyperplasia, the three lines and two zones are more clearly visible, and the thickness of the endometrium increases to about 9-10 mm.

Secretory phase

Early secretory phase: Day 15-19 of the menstrual cycle. During this stage, the endometrial glands are longer and more curved. Small vesicles containing glycogen begin to appear under the nuclei of glandular epithelial cells, called subnuclear vacuoles, which are histological features of the early stage of secretion.

Mid-secretory phase: Day 20-23 of the menstrual cycle. The inner membrane is thicker and more serrated than before. The apical cell membrane of the secretory epithelial cells in the gland ruptures, and the glycogen in the cells is discharged into the glandular cavity, which is called apocrine secretion. During this period, the interstitial tissue is highly edematous and loose, and the spiral arterioles proliferate and curl.

Late secretory phase: Day 24-28 of the menstrual cycle. This period is the pre-menstrual period. The endometrium becomes thickened and spongy. The openings of the endometrial glands face the organ cavity, with secretions such as glycogen overflowing, the stroma becoming looser and more edematous, and the stroma under the surface epithelial cells differentiate into hypertrophic decidual-like cells. During this stage, the spiral arterioles grow rapidly beyond the thickness of the intima, become more curved, and the vascular lumen expands. In the late secretory phase, the thickness of the endometrium is about 5 to 6 mm.

Menstrual period

Days 1 to 4 of the menstrual cycle. At this time, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease, activating the synthesis of prostaglandins in the endometrium. Prostaglandins can stimulate the contraction of the uterine muscle layer and cause continuous spasm of the spiral arterioles in the functional layer of the endometrium, resulting in a decrease in endometrial blood flow. The area of ​​damaged, ischemic, and necrotic tissue gradually expands. Tissue degeneration and necrosis, increased permeability of the blood vessel wall, and rupture of the blood vessels lead to the formation of hematoma at the bottom of the intima, which promotes tissue necrosis and exfoliation. The degenerated and necrotic endometrium mixes with blood and is discharged to form menstrual blood. The thickness of the endometrium can reach 8-10mm. [3]