Thin endometrium: what it is, causes and how to thicken it

Thin endometrium: what it is, causes and how to thicken it

Intimate Life

Thin, or atrophic, endometrium is a condition that occurs when the endometrium is between 0.3 and 6 mm thick, which can make pregnancy difficult, as there are greater difficulties for the embryo to implant and develop.

The endometrium is the tissue that internally lines the uterus and is responsible for housing and nourishing the embryo until birth. Learn more details about the endometrium.

To thicken the endometrium, it is necessary to undergo treatment with hormonal medications, such as estradiol and progesterone, which is why it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.

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How to thicken the endometrium

To increase the thickness of the endometrium and thus have a greater chance of getting pregnant, the doctor may recommend the use of some medications that help regulate hormonal levels and, consequently, increase the thickness of this tissue. Some of the remedies that may be recommended are:

  • Sildenafil (Viagra).
  • Pentoxifilina (Trental);
  • Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), in low quantities;
  • Estradiol (Climaderm);

In women who do not have other fertility problems, the use of these medications is very effective in getting pregnant and there are cases of women who managed to get pregnant with less than 3 cycles of medication. But when there are other problems related to infertility, this period may be longer or it may be necessary to resort to in vitro fertilization.

Natural ways to enlarge the endometrium

There is no natural treatment that is capable of increasing the thickness of the endometrium, but it is believed that consuming yam tea has this ability. This is because it is believed that yam tea is capable of increasing progesterone levels in the blood, favoring not only ovulation but also promoting the increase in the endometrium.

Despite this, the relationship between yam tea and increased fertility and endometrial thickness has not been scientifically proven, and it is therefore recommended that a doctor be consulted to stimulate the thickening of the endometrium.

How to know the size of my endometrium

The only way to know the size of your endometrium is through ultrasound, but as this tissue changes size throughout the menstrual cycle, it is important to carry out this exam in the middle of the menstrual cycle, which is where the fertile period is supposed to occur, which is when the endometrium is at its greatest thickness.

To get pregnant, it is important that the endometrium after fertilization is at least 7 to 8 mm thick. This size can be observed in a uterine ultrasound examination requested by the doctor. When this layer is less than 7 mm thick, the doctor may suggest the use of medications that are capable of ‘thickening’ this layer, such as vasodilators, antiplatelet and hormonal agents.

Causes of thin endometrium

The endometrium changes thickness naturally during each menstrual cycle, but during the fertile period a woman is expected to have a thickness between 16 and 21 mm, although it is now possible to keep the embryo at just 7 mm. But women who have an even thinner layer are unable to get pregnant because the endometrium is not enough to nourish the embryo, ensuring its growth.

Some causes for this thinning of the endometrium are:

  • Low concentration of progesterone;
  • Presence of pelvic inflammatory disease;
  • Use of hormonal contraceptive methods;
  • Injuries to the uterus after curettage or abortion.

Some signs that may indicate endometrial atrophy are irregular menstruation, history of difficulty getting pregnant or miscarriage.