It plays an important role in women’s reproductive health.
Understanding this changing organ can help you take steps to ensure that you have a healthy endometrial lining.
This article explains the function of the endometrial lining during menstruation, conception and pregnancy, and menopause.
Ed Reschke / Getty Images
It also discusses normal vs. abnormal endometrial lining thickness, along with conditions that can affect it.
If pregnancy occurs, the lining helps to maintain the pregnancy.
Where Is the Lining?
This process can take several days and is referred to as your period.
Some people may have health conditions that affect the endometrial lining.
Is There a Normal Endometrial Thickness?
“Normal” endometrial thickness varies from person to person, as well as throughout the person’s lifecycle.
Health conditions and medical treatments such as hormone replacement therapy can also affect the thickness of the endometrial lining.
Endometrial thickness is measured in millimeters using anultrasoundor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What Are the Symptoms of a Thick Uterine Lining?
But some conditions in which it may be found can cause menstrual abnormalities.
If it is too thin, it may prevent you from getting pregnant and it may cause irregular periods.
These substances are inflammatory and reduce blood flow.
Exercise may be beneficial in increasing blood flow to the uterine lining.
One study has shown that acupuncture helped increase the success rate of IVF in study participants.
Medical Treatments
Hormones may be used to moderate the thickness of the endometrial lining.
Progesterone may be used in hyperplasia to decrease endometrial thickness.
Estrogen may be used to thicken the endometrial lining if it is too thin.
In these cases, surgery may be used to remove the obstruction.
If you are post-menopause and bleeding at all, see a healthcare provider as soon as you could.
Don’t hesitate to contact a healthcare provider or gynecologist if something seems off.
Summary
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus.
The uterine lining changes throughout the month, along with the menstrual cycle.
During a woman’s reproductive years, the lining thickens to prepare for pregnancy to occur.
“Normal” endometrial thickness varies from person to person and fluctuates over time.
Various health conditions can also affect the endometrial lining.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uterine lining thickness is the thickest part of the endometrium.
Thickness varies depending on the stage of a person’s menstrual cycle.
It is the thinnest after menstruation and thickest after ovulation.
Critchley HOD, Maybin JA, Armstrong GM, Williams ARW.Physiology of the endometrium and regulation of menstruation.Physiol Rev.
2020;100(3):1149-1179. doi:10.1152/physrev.00031.2019
National Cancer Institute.Uterus.
Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists.Endometriosis.
National Institute on Aging.What is menopause?
Giri SK, Nayak BL, Mohapatra J.Thickened endometrium: When to intervene?
A clinical conundrum.J Obstet Gynaecol India.
2024;14(4):417. doi:10.3390/diagnostics14040417
Yale Medicine.Endometrial hyperplasia.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.
2018 Sep;97(39):e12608.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012608
Gaskins AJ, Chavarro JE.Diet and fertility: a review.Am J Obstet Gynecol.
2016;105(6):1503-1510.e4.
2015;94(8):e459.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000459
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial hyperplasia.