Type of Surgery
Endometrial Biopsy
Last updated: 11/16/2009
An endometrial biopsy is most often performed to investigate the cause of abnormal menstrual bleeding or bleeding from the uterus. Since it is the endometrium that sloughs off during menstruation, this tissue is often the cause of abnormal bleeding outside of a woman’s normal period. An endometrial biopsy may be performed if a woman is having very heavy or especially long periods or if the menstrual cycle is highly irregular. Women that have passed menopause and then begin to experience bleeding may undergo an endometrial biopsy procedure.
Abnormal bleeding from the uterus (or endometrium, more specifically) is not the only reason that a patient may have an endometrial biopsy. If the lining of the uterus appears unusually thick during an ultrasound test or if it feels abnormal on a physical exam, an endometrial biopsy may be indicated. The procedure may be used to investigate possible causes of infertility as well.
An endometrial biopsy is not usually painful, but it can be uncomfortable. Women may want to take an analgesic like ibuprofen or acetaminophen an hour or so before the endometrial biopsy procedure. The procedure is performed in the same setting as a gynecological examination. The woman is positioned in the stirrups on the gynecological examination chair/table. The vagina is held open with a speculum, just as it is in a normal examination. A long, thin instrument is inserted into the vagina, past the cervix, and into the uterus. The endometrial biopsy instrument then scrapes a sample off of the lining on the uterus (endometrium).
Once the endometrial biopsy is taken, it is sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis. Once there, the cells of the endometrium will be looked at under a microscope to see if they are abnormal. Several different abnormalities can be seen in this way and can provide important information about abnormal uterine bleeding.
Abnormal endometrial biopsy results could identify uterine fibroids or polyps, common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. Very abnormal endometrial biopsy results could indicate the presence of cancerous or precancerous cells. Precancerous cells throughout the endometrium are referred to as endometrial hyperplasia.
The most common endometrial biopsy side effects or risks are infection in the endometrium or bleeding caused by the endometrial biopsy site itself (not menstrual bleeding). These endometrial biopsy side effects are temporary and can be treated. It is important, however, that your blood clots normally before an endometrial biopsy procedure and you may have a simple blood test to make sure that this is the case. In very rare instances, an endometrial biopsy instrument may damage part of the uterus or cervix. In general, an endometrial biopsy is a safe and relatively painless procedure that can provide invaluable information about a woman’s health.
Last Updated: 11/16/2009
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