Heavy periods, thick womb lining and awaiting a hysteroscopy biopsy

[goldensun96]

So background is..
I have suffered from horrendous periods since the birth of my second son in 2024. I went to the docs later that year and explained this was unusual for me, had bloods done and a scan which didn't show much other than a cyst on my ovary, which they requested a re-scan of but it fell through the net somewhere and never got requested.
I have been back 3 times and finally agreed to tranexamic acid, which I started. It helped to a degree. But I mentioned I had been going through a box of tampons in 2 days and the doctor said that's not normal and he referred me for another internal ultrasound.
I went for this all chilled thinking it would be okay, however she kept asking me when my last period was, I said it was only 2 weeks ago, she said the lining of my womb is really thick (20mm) and could see clusters of veins dotted around.
I got booked in fir a hysteroscopy and was relieved thinking I'd have answers, I went and she could only get so far and said she had to stop due to not being able to reach my womb as it was too tilted. She kept asking me if I had an infection. though which I thought was strange as I don't?
So now I have to go back under GA for a second hysteroscopy (they said in the next 4 weeks) where they will also take a biopsy, but reading up, 20mm isn't a good sign, I'm 29 with two beautiful boys and I'm worried sick... can anyone reassure me?

I had similar worries and had to have a private gynaecologist consultation and scan which showed the thickened lining. I had so many fibroids that one ovary was impossible to see on a scan.

I don’t remember the exact mm of thickening but it was enough that I was referred to the NHS and put on the list for the 2 week pathway. This happened twice. I went for a biopsy which couldn’t take progress due to tilt and position and extreme pain.

I am a lot older than you so the rest of my story is not going to be the same but over the next year I had two hysteroscopies under general anaesthetic.
it was a very worrying time because of the cancer fears but fortunately all biopsies came back as benign polyps and fibroids. I feared the worst but I am ok.

I had a full hysterectomy plus cervix and ovary removal due to the ongoing scares. But this is because I’m now older and past childbearing age.

im telling you this just because it was recent and I know the horrible worry of it all. I do have children at home and they need me and it’s so easy to fear the worst.

there are many benign causes of the thickening and it’s important to have the biopsy which is your next planned step. I supppse you need to consider worst case scenario could mean an early hysterectomy but it’s not always as serious as you fear. I really hope you will be ok and be looked after properly.

Thank you so much for your kind message. I'm so glad you are all sorted now and it was nothing 'serious' but I hope all your issues are gone now after your hysterectomy. I will try update my thread once I have answers. It's just so hard not to think the worse when I've been going through this for 2 years.

I know the fear and worry so well. I was in a bad way from 2023 which is when I had to go private to try to find out what was going on. It was a horrible time but once I got to the point of being offered a hysterectomy I was really well looked after. But I could not relax until after clear biopsies and I had three lots of this biopsy and wait.
I really feel for you it’s awful but mine was all clear each time. I had spun out in fear many times and so had my children. Health worries are terrifying.
Im presuming you will be on the 2 week pathway now and so hopefully you will have better news after your biopsies. I hope everything goes well for you.

I too went private for this when I found out through a scan for a totally different condition that I had lining a similar thickness to yours. I had my hysteroscopy under GA and they put the coil in at the same time, and also removed a large polyp and did a biopsy. I was really worried but it all worked out. I hope it is the same for you.

Similar to some of the above stories - retroverted uterus, thick womb lining and multiple fibroids.

I wish I'd had something drastic done about it at the time because the ongoing investigations and dread have been all consuming.

My lining was 30mm OP. Also pre menopausal. I had two biopsies a year apart. All totally fine. It’s just thick. A lining like that would be a very concerning sign post menopause. At your age the overwhelming likelihood is it’s just a bit of a pita.

Hi there. I wonder if anybody can reassure me at all or provide any advice. I am 37 and had my second baby via c-section back in January this year. My period came back 12 weeks postpartum but it hasn’t stopped, so it’s been nearly 7 weeks, though it ebbs and flows. I had a scan this week to see if there was any retained placenta etc and was told my lining was 30mm, which is ridiculously thick. I am now on the urgent cancer referral pathway and I am terrified. I have a 4 year old and a 4 month old and I am struggling to cope on a daily basis. Everything I read seems to suggest that pregnancy actually lowers your oestrogen so for it to just be wonky hormones seems unlikely, plus I didn’t breastfeed for more than a few days. So my mind is going straight to cancer. I know I just need to wait but I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. I don’t know what to do.

I'm sorry, the waiting period can feel like torture. Try and stay in the present rather than tormenting yourself with worst case scenarios. Also hold onto the fact that most people on suspected cancer pathways don't have cancer - but the criteria have to be set to ensure that those who do can be treated promptly.

The Macmillan support line can be helpful at times like this:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/macmillan-support-line

Thank you guys. I had the procedure but I was told nothing after it, just results in 2 weeks, it's been nearly 4 weeks and I've heard nothing

That's horrific op, the consultant should have come to talk to you after your GA wore off. Mine came around to show me the photos of my uterine lining.

I'd be on the phone about this if I were you.