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Diagnostic Services at Astra |
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| Diagnostic Services - Endometrial Biopsy |
The lining of a woman’s uterus, called the endometrium, changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Early on, the lining grows thicker until a mature egg is released from the ovary. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, the lining is shed during the normal menstrual bleeding.
An endometrial biopsy is a way for your doctor to take a small sample of the endometrium and have it checked under a microscope for any problems or hormone levels that are out of balance and affect the endometrium.
| An endometrial biopsy may be done to for several reasons: |
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To see whether the lining of your uterus is going through the normal menstrual cycle changes and can support a pregnancy. |
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To determine the cause of abnormal Pap test results, check for overgrowth of the lining (endometrial hyperplasia) or check for cancer. |
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o find the cause of heavy, prolonged or irregular uterine bleeding. |
The endometrial biopsy is usually performed one to four days prior to menstruation. In a woman with a 28-day cycle, it is usually scheduled for Days 24 to 26. From start to finish the test takes about five minutes. The physician begins by inserting a speculum into the vagina. The cervical area is cleansed with cotton swabs and antiseptic and an antiseptic solution containing iodine. (The patient must advise the physician if she has an allergy to iodine or shellfish.) An instrument called a tenaculum may be used to stabilize the cervix. This may cause a brief, slight cramping sensation. A narrow plastic instrument is passed into the uterus to collect a small sample of tissue from the side wall of the uterus. |
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