to ask of your experience of a 'thick lining of the womb'?

[Verynice]

So I've been bleeding more or less for about 6 months (occasionally heavy like a period, occasionally clots and in between, just a low level constant light bleeding).

Was referred for an US (Trans abdominal and trans vaginal) which I've had, where the sonographer said that 'there is nothing physically wrong - no mass, no polyps, no fibroids'. I asked was cervix ok and she said yes, everything is fine, it's just the lining of the womb is thick. I asked her what that means and she said it should clear out after a period and that perhaps it was hormonal.

Anyway tonight, not sure why, but bleeding is ongoing and haven't actually heard anything, so I googled 'thick lining of the womb' and managed to find the charity called Eve - which deals with womb cancer.
As you can gather, at 2am in the morning, it's not really the best to be googling!

So, given the scan and that no mass was shown (I assumed she was referring to fibroids or something), does that mean I have the all clear?

Haven't heard a think back, but I suppose it was only about 2 weeks ago. The sonographer had said at the time that they'd probably call me back in 5-6 weeks.

So now I'm thinking - wtaf? The other thing is that the blood stinks to the high heavens. Utterly stink. I'm in constant mild pain, but nothing remotely worth writing home about on the pain scale - just constant pain really.

AIBU to ask you to tell me that you've had similar and that all was good?

[Verynice]

Haven't heard a thing* back not a think lol

[marylou1977]

I had the thick uterine lining- and it was cancer. Why don’t they do a D and C and send the lining to be checked?

[isitme2018]

Hi,
I had this. It wasn’t cancer but a cervical erosion. I had a minor op to burn it away and it’s been fine for the last 8 years.
Hope yours is the same.

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

Hi OP, sonographer here, perhaps she didn’t explain very well but your lining is probably thick because of the stage you are in your cycle, hence why she wants you back once you’ve had a period. It’s also must easier to assess the endometrium and check for polyps once you’ve had a period as when the endometrium thickens up throughout the cycle it can hide polyps.
Ultrasound is not the best at assessing the cervix though so if you’re not up to date with a smear then you should have one.

[daydream123]

Hi Verynice

Didn't want to read and run. I've been in a somewhat similar situation. In my case they initially found polyps, then they thought they'd found them all, but the irregular bleeding was still happening. I'm now back in to check for a suspected polyp next month, but only because I insisted.

My best advice with anything to do with irregular bleeding is to put yourself first and insist if you have to. After months of being fobbed off, I eventually went to A&E after I bled through a night pad and it went all the way down my legs in a couple of hours. Shouldn't have had to waste their time, but like you, I'd been kept waiting months with no answer.

I had a thickened womb lining too, which is normal if you either haven't had a period for some time (or if you've been bleeding incessantly, I would think - I had both). Think of it as being a natural build up, it's not necessarily anything sinister, but for your peace of mind, I would be suggesting that they check it out.

If you wanted them to have a proper look to check all is well, you could ask after a hysteroscopy. They put a tiny camera up to see what's going on, and they can also take a biopsy of your womb lining at this point. Not sure if there are other ways to do this, but if you are concerned, I would think this may be a good starting point for discussion. They may suggest it anyway, with the symptoms you're displaying.

Some other things to think about or that may come up along the way.

Are your smear tests up to date?

Have the doctors done swabs?

Has your GP done a blood test? Irregular bleeding can sometimes be a thyroid issue, and blood tests can tell them a bit more about the likelihood of this.

If fertility is a concern for you at some point, they can also do blood tests to check this.

I was eventually told, after polyp removal didn't fix the problem, that my issue was hormonal. They prescribed the pill (Cilest), which I very reluctantly went along with, but I have to say, it has regulated my bleeding and minimised the impact it was having on my mood. But I only accepted this after pushing and pushing until they exhausted other avenues. I'm only back in for another hysteroscopy next month after going back to my GP and saying I wasn't satisfied with the way my care had been handled. You have to battle for proper care sometimes with women's issues, and it's awful, but they will come through for you if you pipe up, and don't shut up! If it were me, I would possibly wait to hear from the sonographer/radiologist, but pursue some of the things your GP can check for, in case it needs escalating.

I'm obviously not a doctor, this is just my personal experience, but if you need a hand hold or someone to talk to, I'm around. I'll try and work out how to make my messages open.

Best of luck.

[CherryPavlova]

I had a thickened patch of uterine lining. It doesn’t necessarily mean cancer but dependent on your age and medical history and the degree of thickness, it might bear checking out.
The gold standard test for uterine thickening review is a hysteroscopy not ultrasound. It I also not a diagnostic tool for issues related to the cervix.
It is unlikely to be endometrial cancer but with a ‘just in case’ mind you should go back and have proper testing to put your mind at rest or at least a proper explanation of the results from your GP. A thickening of the endometrium might be related to your cycle if the US showed all over thickening rather than a small patch of thickened tissue. It doesn’t sound like that was made clear.

[Verynice]

@Basilneedswaterandsun That's the thing though - I have a constant period.

[Karigan195]

About 5 years ago I was bleeding constantly and had a ton of investigations done. I also got told I had a thick lining. Didn’t have cancer etc. Actually what I did have was a shit ton of stress that disappeared once I left my arsehole of an ex. Between the stress going, taking vitamin b and magnesium (which reduces stress responses in the body) it stopped. Now I have regular periods. Or rather did until I got pregnant.

So do not presume the worst. It could be just hormone imbalance caused by stress or something else but keep going to appointments to check.

[Verynice]

daydream123 Thanks for your long reply. Very helpful. As it turns out I'm getting a call back from the GP re another issue, so will see if she'll shed some light on what's going on.

Have had bloods done - all good.

She didn't take a swab no - as my appointment was in the pm and she said it wouldn't go until the next day by which time the result would be compromised.

[Cocolepew]

I had this, I had an ablation to burn it away but ended up having a hysterectomy. It wasn't cancer.
It caused me to bleed constantly and I had terrible varicose veins on my womb and vulva due to the pressure.

[Verynice]

@CherryPavlova Thanks, will ask about hysteroscopy when GP calls t today - hopefully it's my female one who referred me for the scan in the first place, - but sometimes when you ask for a call back it can be any of them in the practice.

Something is telling me I have an infection in there somewhere, given the awful odour. Never smelt anything like it!

To answer other questions, I can't take oral contraception due to a history of pulmonary embolism (unexplained). Can't use mirena as it makes me suicidal (despite them telling me such a thing is impossible - sigh). I'm early 40's and I am not concerned about fertility - apart from to prevent pregnancy! I'm done with baby-making. Would happily have the whole shebang removed lol.

[Verynice]

@Cocolepew I guess if I heard something from the GP re result of scan, and what she's going to do about it, I wouldn't be left in limbo. I'm guessing they'll send me back for another scan as suggested by the sonographer and then maybe review.
It's so irritating having something wrong down there. Who'd want to be a woman eh?

[ShanghaiDiva]

I had a similar issue - D&C and then hysteroscopy - all came back fine and there seemed to be no explanation for the continuous heavy bleeding. Mirena fixed the problem, but clearly not an option for you.
Please do get your iron levels checked if you are constantly bleeding. mine were very, very low.

[Verynice]

@marylou1977 - sorry to hear that. TBH I've no idea what they're going to do if anything. I haven't been referred to gynae in any case, so I presume the GP will handle it until they send me for a second scan in a few weeks maybe. Am a bit in the dark!

[Verynice]

Good reminder re iron levels. Have had bloods done, so will ask if they've showed up anything strange. I don't think they have, or am assuming so, in that I've heard nothing about it.

[Danniotley]

I had exactly the same and after ultrasound , hysteroscopy and ct scan I was diagnosed with adenomyosis. I had the Mirena which has sorted it for me but my sister who has the same it didn’t work for. She has had ablation and it has worked for her. Last resort is a hysterectomy. I had to go private to get the diagnosis as my gp kept insisting it was just heavy periods. The consultant told me that adenomyosis is regularly missed.

[Verynice]

Did any of you with this sort of issue have a really bad smell from the blood?

[Verynice]

Apologies, I know it's a gross issue to be discussing at lunchtime

[Jenb2104]

After a lot of heavy bleeding/ clots lasting months I was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia. I had a biopsy and it was luckily not the cancerous type. Have a look into endometrial hyperplasia and see if your symptoms are similar.

[Danniotley]

Adenomyosis is similar to Endometriosis, both are conditions in which the lining of the uterus grows where it shouldn't and both are progressive. However, the diagnosis of adenomyos is based on these findings is often inaccurate, and other causes-fibroids, endometriosis, or polyps-are often found as the cause for the bleeding or discomfort. Symptoms are different for every woman, but can include: irregular periods, longer than usual periods, heavy bleeding or clotting. Menstrual blood may start to have an unpleasant odor because the lining that is being shed is older than usual. Anemia can also become a concern in cases of heavy or prolonged periods.

[Verynice]

@Jenb2104 - Yes - 100% matches my symptoms. Really hope it's the female one who calls me today. They said it would be around 1 or 2pm. So might know something soon.

[Verynice]

Thanks @Danniotley - If it's the female GP today, I'm going to throw those big word diagnoses out there (and mispronounce them) and see what she thinks.
I presumed I had an infection given the smell, but maybe it's not an infection at all. Hmmm. Thanks ladies - you've armed me with a lot more information than I had 12 hours ago.

[Jenb2104]

If it is endometrial hyperplasia you will need a hysteroscooy to take a biopsy to check the 'type'. Mine was treated with the progesterone only pill, as essentially that is the issue--not enough progesterone. If you can't take hormones the other options are a d&c or eventually a hysterectomy. I was only 26 when diagnosed so this was something I wanted to avoid. It is apparently uncommon in premenopausal women.

[Verynice]

Lucky they could treat it without the hysterectomy Jen as you were so young!
Have you had children since? Apols if that's a nosey question!

[Verynice]

Do they typically check for hormone levels in standard blood tests?