Thickened womb lining - urgent referal

[Ismo456]

Hi

went to my gp a couple of months ago because my periods have been very heavy since my 3rd child was born 12 months ago. I had strange bleeding for a few weeks post birth, passing clots and other strange tissue looking lumps. Was scanned for this at the time but was told no tissue was remaining anymore but there were some blood clots left.

so fast forward to last week, had the internal ultrasound, gp calls me today to say my womb lining is thick and I’ve been refereed under the 2 week cancer referal. I’m terrified.

she said my lining is 21mm, it shouldn’t be over 15mm. Period is due tomorrow. I’m 38 years old. Haven’t been on contraception for 13 years, am extremely fertile. I don’t have any spotting, intermittent bleeding or out of the ordinary period pains. But i do have to wear maternity pads on the heaviest days of my period.

she said referal to gyn will likely include another scan and possibly camera and biopsys.

has anyone else had similar - and what was your outcome. I’m so scared!

Hi, I’m slightly different in that I have had intermittent spotting and am a decade older and on HRT but was equally surprised and very anxious to have the same urgent referral. I’ve now had the hysteroscopy procedure (camera looking at my uterus) and biopsy taken (on Saturday). I’m still waiting for the results from the biopsy but my consultant was reassuring that based on what she saw I’m probably ok. I’ve also been given a mirena coil to try to stop the intermittent spotting but that may be because I’m on HRT and it’ll be my progesterone source instead of pills.

Reading a lot of threads on here, this is very normal to have this referral and we should try not to worry (if we can). Fingers crossed for you.

Hello op I’m going through the exact same loop as you though I’m two decades older. Of course we will worry. And in 99% of cases it’s just a precaution. But I just wanted to say you are not alone and give your hand a little squeeze.

Hey! How was the procedure? Hope you don’t have to wait too long for results, and that all is ok xx

Thank you, have you got a date for your referal?

my head is telling me that I will likely be fine but the doubt is there isn’t it. I just feel so stressed. Especially with the children breaking up for the summer tomorrow!

I had to have it under a general anaesthetic (my consultant tried a biopsy at my first appointment and said my uterus was tilted and it just wasn’t going to work without anaesthetic) so I can’t comment on the procedure but my recovery has been fine, a bit of mild cramping and spotting but that’s likely the coil.

I have to wait six weeks for results as my consultant is on her summer holidays in early August which I’m gutted about. I did ask if anyone would pick up results while she was away if it was bad news but apparently not. However I’m in Scotland and I’ve had to go private as we don’t have 2w referrals for gynae (I was told 28 weeks +) so my timescales will not apply to you if you’re not subject to the failings of the NHS up here!

Hello, I had a similar experience last year, albeit I’m 10 years older than you with grown up children.
I was on hrt and having heavy and prolonged periods. Referral sent for ultrasound which showed thickened womb lining and query adenomyosis. Referred on 2 week pathway for consultant appointment. Had an examination, ultrasound and biopsies taken (local anaesthetic offered) it was fine but I wouldn’t have wanted to have it without the local anaesthetic as a bare minimum.

results showed all was fine (I had stopped the hrt) and I was grateful to have been referred on the 2 week pathway as it meant being seen quickly (I had to chase my results afterwards)

I was offered the mirena coil but have declined and my periods have returned to their usual heaviness (ugh!) but no prolonged bleeding now.

have you got a date for your appointment?

Mines been thick on and off for quite a few years, with a query re polyps a few years back.
usually depends on where I am in my cycle, I also have very heavy periods. I’ve had completely normal scans as well. I haven’t had the hysteroscopy yet after my last thick scan, couldn’t face it - consultant sent me for another scan and it was normal again! So I’m not overly concerned, as I believe it’s linked to progesterone levels. Can’t face the mirena, either!

I had exactly the same as you at about the same age OP, I think I was 37. Hadn’t used hormonal contraception for about 15 years. Had very heavy periods and took me a long time to get a referral for a scan.

it turned out to be just a weirdly shaped large flat fibroid. I had it removed under GA and a biopsy showed it wasn’t cancerous. They put a coil in during the op as heavy periods are a risk factor for womb cancer. I don’t have periods now and it’s amazing 🤩

it’s good that you’ve had an urgent referral. It freaked me out too but so good to get the answer you need quickly. Best of luck.

Thanks all for your positive experiences.

nice to know that it’s not all as doom and gloom as it sounds right now. I really hope mine turns out to be nothing sinister. Hopefully I will get my gym appt through asap and then from there I can start the process and know what’s going on.

is the coil used as a line of treatment for this? After years of learning how to not get pregnant without using hormonal based contraception I am really reluctant to then have a coil fitted. But will obviously do this if it is medically needed!

Hello
Same issue , my womb lining is 17.7 mm
They think it is thickened due to a polyp , they are removing it on Tuesday.
I was seen very quickly too , it's good , consultant said he has done 700 procedures in the last 12 months and only one was cancerous.
I am scared as I am 51 , still having periods and spotting.
Thank goodness for the NHS , you will be fine 💗

I’m a GP and I see this a lot. I probably refer about 10 women a year with thickened womb linings on ultrasound. In nearly 30 years of working I can only think of a couple that have turned out to have cancer, and it was easily treated either a hysterectomy.

Could this not be something along the lines of endometriosis/pcos?

Have you heard of adenomyosis, it could be that. Causes heavy bleeding and thickening of the womb. Many with endometriosis also have it but it can be stand alone. Naha Munchetty has recently spoken of it.

This has recently happened to my mum, the biopsy came back all clear and they’ve changed her HRT medication x

I think the coil is v good at keeping the lining of the uterus thin. They get bad press but every (female) gynaecologist/medic I know (which is a few) all have them. I have had three, one bad experience with fitting with my second but have one again now as wanted hrt and did not want to have periods.

My daughters lining of uterus was 25mm, very heavy bleeds and passing clots. She had to stop playing sports. Turned out it was Adenomyosis. When she’s finished with family planning she will need a hysterectomy

I had this - checked womb under general - was just pre menopausal offered a hysterectomy, had acupuncture for a few months rescanned womb and was normal

I've gone through this as well, was on hrt and having a period every 2 weeks. Scan showed thickening of the womb so was referred for a hysteroscopy which had to be done under general because the attempt under local was horrendously painful. I also had a mirena coil fitted. No abnormalities detected under the procedure and after a month of spotting I haven't had a period since.
If you are going to have a hysteroscopy I strongly recommend having it under GA. I went in at 8am, had the procedure at 11am and was discharged by 4pm.
Good luck and try not to worry too much 😊

All the very best to you! Apparently 90% of cases are not cancer.

I had post menopausal bleeding on two occasions and both times was put straight on the two week cancer pathway.

That procedure is absolutely standard.

I went for a intravaginal scan (which is quite gentle and rather interesting - I'm the sort that looks at the screen) and she found some thickening and polyps.

Then the lying bastard male gynaecologist persuaded me to consent to a pipelle biopsy with no prior warning, information or advice on pain relief.

There is a misogynistic policy not to give women pain control for gynae procedures. Try us first with nothing. See if we can bear it.

The brave gynae nurse stopped him when I 'reacted'.

It's a scandal. I had both my hysteroscopies & polypectomies & biopsies under general anaesthetic, and all was well.

If it happens again I will be demanding my right to anaesthetic from the start.

Hi, yes I've just recently been through similar. Was having horrendous heavy periods with clotting and was bleeding in between periods. After an ultrasound they found I had a womb long the same thickness as yours and I was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia. And also adenomyosis. Some of the cells in my womb had started to turn abnormal but not cancerous but had a risk of that down the line. I also had fibroids.
They tried me with a mirena coil and progesterone treatment but it didn't work and I was bleeding every day and in pain.
In the end I had a hysterectomy and it's honestly been the best thing ever!! It been a year now since my operation and I'm feeling great!
If you feel you are done with having children I'd very much recommend getting it out.
I still have my ovaries so not gone in to menopause and have had no issues at all.
No bleeding, no more pain. Nothing. Hope all goes well for you

I had a similar thing although in my 40s and perimenopausal. I also avoided all hormonal birth control throughout my life. They did offer me the coil but I didn’t want it, and there were other options (ablation was offered too, although I didn’t want it either)

Good luck and try not to worry. It’s not a pleasant experience (they gave me gas and air for the scan and biopsy) but it just seems to be a crappy thing rather than anything sinister in the vast majority of cases.

I had a hysteroscopy with out anything, they also took biopsys while they were in there. It wasn't the most comfortable thing ever but not horrendous by any means.

I had similar, ultrasound showed thick lining so went in for hysteroscopy (they fill the uterus with water and look around) and took a biopsy.
they fitted a mirena too
the procedure was uncomfortable but ok
results back within a couple of weeks - all ok
broadly lighter periods and minimal clots now.
good luck x

eta- the diagnosed endometrial hyperplasia as the thickening was only inside my uterus

This is so reassuring. Thank you xx

Thanks all for putting my mind at rest. Seems it’s not uncommon.

one thing I’m wondering, why do some people have the procedure under general and some with just gas and air?