Thin Uterus Lining Causes and Symptoms I How to Treat Thin Endometrium Lining

The endometrium or uterine lining is a layer that grows and then sheds during every menstrual cycle. This layer is crucial as the embryo attaches itself to the uterine lining, a process called implantation. So, if the uterine lining is too thin, implantation will not be successful, and you won’t be able to conceive. Intrigued to know the reasons behind thin uterus lining, its symptoms, and how it is treated? Then stay tuned as in this article, you will find all the information about the thin lining of the uterus and its cure.

What Is Thin Endometrium Lining?

The uterine lining needs to be nearly 7-8 mm in thickness for implantation to take place. A thin uterine lining means that the endometrium lining’s thickness is not 7 mm but less than that which is thinner than usual.

What Is the Link Between a Damaged Endometrial Lining and Your Fertility?

The correlation between fertility and endometrial thickness is a strong one. That’s because the uterus is an important reproductive organ and so, the uterine lining should be perfect to support implantation. These are how thin endometrium may impact a woman’s fertility:

1. When the endometrium is extremely thin, it will lack the strength to anchor a fertilized egg. That will lead to implantation failure.
2. Again, a thin uterine lining might result in a miscarriage.
3. Lastly, if the endometrium lining is thin, it will be challenging for a woman to get pregnant. Even if someone gets pregnant, there can be complications such as IUGR.

Causes of Thin Endometrium

Doctors have found the following causes behind thin endometrium:

1. Less blood flow

How thick your endometrium is, depends on the amount of blood flow to your uterus. If the blood flow is insufficient, the endometrium will start thinning. According to doctors, diabetes, high BP, obesity, cigarette smoking, and consumption of birth control pills are some causes of less blood flow to the uterus.

2. Hormonal imbalance

For both men and women, hormonal imbalance is directly connected to a person’s reproductive health. So, if your body fails to produce enough estrogen and progesterone, the uterine lining may be less than 8 mm thick. Low estrogen levels can be because of factors like stress, certain medications, and unhealthy eating habits.

Hormonal imbalance does not just mean low levels of female reproductive hormones. Women who PCOS have high levels of male hormones/ androgens. And PCOS affects 10% of women in their 20s. Androgens can interfere with an individual’s ovulation and thicken the endometrium.

3. Nutrition deficiency

Do you eat a balanced diet? If a person does not eat properly, her body switches to “starvation mode”. Then it breaks down muscles to get energy. It also includes the muscles present in the uterus. Hence, this may lead to atrophy less uterine contractions, and atrophy, resulting in a thin endometrium.

4. Age

As we age, our ovaries cannot produce as much estrogen as the ovaries of a youthful woman. In addition, blood vessels present inside the uterine lining also lose their flexibility and they don’t heal easily. All these things contribute to thinning the endometrium. Irregular ovulation and low-quality eggs can also be held accountable for endometrium thinning.

5. Autoimmune diseases

These diseases take a toll on the human body and affect several bodily functions. Autoimmune disease means the immune system attacks healthy tissues mistaking them to be foreign invaders. The adverse effects can be inflammation and thinning of the endometrium. Lupus, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. are some examples of autoimmune diseases.

6. Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign growths. They are so small that the human eye can’t detect them. Fibroids can also be large enough to cause bulges in the woman’s uterus. So, fibroids affect pregnancy, thin the endometrium, and surgery is recommended to eliminate them.

7. Infections

Sexually transmitted infections can scar the endometrial tissue, making it thin over time. So, if you suspect you have some sexually transmitted infection, don’t feel embarrassed to go to a doctor ASAP.

Symptoms of Thin Endometrium Lining

Knowing the symptoms of endometritis is crucial so that you can receive timely treatment and increase your chances of getting pregnant. So, these are the symptoms that indicate you might have a thin endometrium:

• Light or irregular periods: If periods become lighter or more irregular than usual, it can signify a thin endometrial lining. A common sign that there might be some issue with your endometrium is alterations in your menstrual cycle. If the bleeding is irregular or inadequate, perhaps the endometrium has started to thin out.
• Infertility: Infertility is the inability to conceive despite having unprotected sexual intercourse regularly. If you are infertile, it may be linked to the endometrial thickness.
• Discomfort: Studies have revealed that you may experience discomfort or pain in the pelvis if you have a thin endometrium.

While some women experience the above-mentioned symptoms, many don’t experience any symptoms at all. However, if you are having trouble conceiving, a thorough check-up of your reproductive health will reveal if you have chronic endometritis.

Read to know: How to Increase Sperm Count

Treatment for Chronic Endometritis

Biopsy or ultrasound can detect thin endometrium lining. If you are eager to become a mother but have been diagnosed with an extremely thin uterine lining, there are still ways to get pregnant through IVF. With some lifestyle changes and the right treatment, your uterine lining can thicken, and chances of conceiving will increase. These are your treatment options:

1. Estrogen therapy

Doctors suggest estrogen therapy to people with thin endometrium. One common way of increasing the estrogen levels in your body is by prescribing a gel or patch containing estrogen. You simply have to apply it to your skin dedicatedly. Another alternate method is to take an estrogen supplement in the form of tablets orally.

Most people have witnessed that estrogen therapy makes their endometrium thick and helps them conceive. In case you feel you are having a hormonal imbalance after taking estrogen orally, immediately discuss it with your doctor.

2.  PRP

A person with a thin uterine lining can opt for a new kind of treatment known as PRP. The full form of PRP is platelet-rich plasma. When PRP is injected into the uterus, you will see positive results within 2-3 menstrual cycles. As far as the side effects of PRP are concerned, they are minimal. So, you won’t develop any allergic reaction after taking the injections.

3. Hysteroscopy/ removal of scar tissue

Endometriosis, previous surgeries, or pelvic inflammatory disease may result in scar tissue. So, if a woman has one of these conditions, the doctor may go ahead with surgery to get rid of the scar tissue. Hysteroscopy is the medical term for this kind of surgery.

During hysteroscopy, a fertility specialist inserts a small camera into the uterus and explores the uterine cavity to detect problems. The camera is inserted through the vagina and once the doctor spots the scar tissue, he removes it with a special instrument. Some cramping or bleeding is normal after the completion of the procedure. There is no reason to worry as the side effects will subside in no time.

4. Lifestyle changes

Some resources claim that endometrium can be thickened naturally by looking after your body. So, if the test reports confirm that you have a thin endometrium, you can try the following things:

1. For increasing vascularity, practice yoga or some other form of exercise regularly.
2. Keep track of your periods and give enough rest to your body. You will be surprised to learn that stress can decrease blood flow to the uterus, affect hormone levels, and make the endometrium thin.
3. To better your endometrial health, consume foods that are loaded with minerals and vitamins, especially omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E. Other than eating vegetables, whole grains, and fruits, you should also avoid foods that are loaded with saturated fat.
4. For thin endometrium, smoking is a serious risk factor. So, your doctor will advise you to quit smoking as reduces a woman’s fertility significantly.

To Sum Up

We may conclude by saying that thin endometrium can be caused by diverse factors and low levels of estrogen are the most common cause. However, this condition is treatable through surgery, dietary modifications, and hormone therapy. So, if you have a thin endometrium, do not delay the treatment as it is decreasing your chances of conceiving. Wish you all the best!

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Dr Ritu Agarwal

Dr. Ritu Agarwal is an appreciated IVF expert in Jaipur for IVF therapy, owing to her more than ten years of experience in this field. She is the top IVF specialist in Jaipur who makes every attempt to provide correct counseling and emotional support to patients in order to help them find the ideal solution for becoming parents.