Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition characterised by a thickening of the lining of the womb. Sometimes this can be a simple thickening as a result of a hormonal influence. On other occasions it can be a precancerous condition and needs urgent treatment to prevent development to cancer.

Incidence

About 10,000 women a year develop endometrial hyperplasia

Age

Endometrial hyperplasia usually occurs in women in the latter part of their menstrual life.

Geographic

This is most common in the western world.

Predisposing factors

This is most common is the following women;

Diabetic women

Over weight women

Women with a previous diagnosis of polycystic ovaries

Women with hypertension

Clinical presentation

Women most commonly present with menorrhagia and polymenorrhoea.

Prognosis and treatments

Simple hyperplasia - This rarely progresses to anything more serious and is normally treatment with medicine called progesterones.

Complex hyperplasia - This is normally treatable medically but if untreated may progress to atypical hyperplasia and cancer.

Atypical hyperplasia - About a third of women with atypical hyperplasia have cancer on the the final specimen and another third will progress to cancer if left untreated. For this reason the gold standard treatment for hyperplasia is hysterectomy.