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More about Endometrial Biopsy:
Definition Purpose Precautions Preparation Aftercare Risks Normal results Abnormal results Resources |
The test is most often performed to find out the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. Abnormal bleeding includes bleeding between menstrual periods, excessive bleeding during a menstrual period, or bleeding after menopause. Since abnormal uterine bleeding can indicate cancer, an endometrial biopsy is done to rule out endometrial cancer or hyperplasia (a potentially pre-cancerous condition).
Endometrial biopsies are also done as a screening test for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy usually requires a woman to take estrogen and progesterone. An endometrial biopsy is particularly useful in cases where postmenopausal women take estrogen, but cannot take progesterone. Estrogen in the system without the balancing effect of progesterone has been linked to an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
An endometrial biopsy can also be used as part of an infertility exam to rule out problems with the development of the endometrium. This condition is called luteal phase defect and can cause the endometrium to not support a pregnancy. An endometrial biopsy can also be used to evaluate the problem of repeated early miscarriages.
— Lata Cherath, PhD
