“Thin” endometrium Almaty

“Thin” endometrium

A “thin” endometrium is a relatively common condition where inadequate thickness of the uterine lining disrupts the embryo implantation process, consequently reducing the effectiveness of IVF programs.

The endometrium, the inner layer lining the uterine cavity, plays a crucial role in a woman’s reproductive function. Comprising two layers, the basal and the functional, the basal layer remains relatively constant with hormonal fluctuations, while the functional layer is directly influenced by hormonal changes. The functional layer is responsible for implantation and the subsequent development of the embryo.

If the thickness of the endometrium at the time of embryo transfer is less than 7 mm, the overall effectiveness of the entire IVF program significantly decreases.

Reasons for reducing the thickness of the endometrium

• Inflammatory processes such as acute and chronic endometritis (resulting from infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and viral endometrial lesions);
• hormonal and endocrine disorders (specifically deficiency of female sex hormones);
• endometriosis;
• traumatic intrauterine interventions (such as abortions and curettage of the uterine cavity);
• congenital factors like defects in the endometrial receptors for hormones.

Symptoms

• Poor, smearing menstruation;
• Short period of menstruation;
• Irregular menstruation;
• Infertility.

Diagnostic

The diagnosis of this condition involves ultrasound monitoring on the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 12th, and 14th days of the menstrual cycle. Additionally, all patients undergo diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy before and after treatment.

Treatment

Correction of the condition of the “thin” endometrium is a rather difficult and lengthy process. For several months, various treatment regimens with drugs affecting the endometrium have been used:

• Cyclic hormone therapy;
• Extended therapy with estradiol continuously from day 14 to day 82;
• Administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF);
• Utilization of metabolic and vasoactive agents to enhance blood supply to the endometrium as concurrent therapy: sildenafil, low doses of aspirin, and long-term use of curantil;
• “Scratching” of the endometrium during a pipelle biopsy or hysteroscopy.