Module 3: Genitals: Endometrium Flashcards
Now moving onto Endometrial Female Reproductive Pathology. When is the normal physiological endometrium?
Proliferative Endometrium --day 1-13 --Estrogen Dominant --Follicular Phase in Ovary (remember Polycystic ovarian disease trapped in this stage) Ovulation day 14 Secretory Endometrium --day 15-28 ---progesterone dominant --more torturous glands --luteal phase in ovary --decidua in prego (remember women who dont ovulate are stuck in this phase) Shedding of Endometrium due to loss of progesterone = menstruation
Explain the endometrium proliferative and secretory in terms of histology, slide 1a and 1b
Proliferative and Secretory:
–gland to stroma ratio does not change unless there is a pathology
Architecture Changes!
**proliferative: straight glands, cuboidal to tall epithelium with single to double layer and stroma is dense
***Secretory: coiled glands, tall with vacuoles single layer epithelium, edematous stroma with plump cells and conspicous arterioles
Abnormal Endometrial Cycle is termed Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB). There are four types, each card will go through the types of DUB. 1. Unopposed Estrogen Effect
- Unopposed Estrogen Effect:
- –Anovulatory cycles: proliferative epithelium (due to excessive estrogen stimulation)- *leads to polycystic ovaries (Again because excess estrogen)
- –Estrogen producing neoplasms: granulosa cell tumor & adrenal cortical adenoma
- -Endometrial hyperplasia and Endometrial Carcinoma
- -Effect: persistent proliferation: irregular bleeding (DUB)
- *leads to polycystic ovaries (Again because excess estrogen)
The next type of DUB is Exogenous Progesterone Effect. What are some features?
- Exogenous Progesterone Effect
- -Contraceptive Pills with progesterone
- -abundant stroma with plump cells (pseudodecidualized) and edema
- -glands small and atrophic (lined by single inactive epithelium) due to lack of priming by estrogen therefore no proliferative changes.
The third type of DUB is Inadequate luteal phase. What are some features?
- Inadequate Luteal Phase (ovary)
- -Inadequate corpus luteum function due to poor immune secretory glands
- -low progesterone, FSH and LH
- -irregular ripening
The fourth type of DUB is Persistent luteal phase. What are some features?
- Menstruation occurs with abrupt cessation of progesterone secretion
- -if corpus luteum continues to secrete low levels of progesterone — excessive and prolonged bleeding (aka protracted and irregular shedding)
- -regular periods just long periods
- -histology would show persistent secretory phase even after 5 days of menstruation
Now moving on to Endometriosis. What is it? pathogenesis?
Endometrosis = endometrial tissue outside of the lining of the uterus.
Pathogensis: metaplasia of celomic epithelium and inflammatory cascade (prostaglandins, estrogen) (another theory is retrograde flow through the fallopian tubes)
What are the symptoms in a patient with Endometriosis?
Asymptomatic
Dysmenorrhea
Menorrhagia
Infertility
What are some complications of endometriosis?
Risk of tubal pregnancy
Rectal bleeding during menstruation if extrauterine site is the colon
Regression can happen with the help of what in endometriosis patients?
Pregnancy
Oral contraceptives
Next condition is endometritis, what is it?
Cyclical shedding of endometrium
Explain acute endometritis
Acute (Active inflammation)
- -can happen postpartum (puerperal sepsis)
- -Can happen with ascending gonococal/chlamydia infection from lower genital tract (foul smelling vaginal discharge, tenderness in suprapubic area and cervical motion tenderness)
Explain Chronic Endometritis
Chronic (chronic inflammation): of the uterine cavity
- -plasma cells in stroma (normal stroma does not contain plasma cells)
- -risk factors: chronic PID, postpartum/postabortion, IUCD, TB, and Chlamydia
Next topic is endometrial hyperplasia. Who is this seen in? Etiology?
Menopausal Women
Pathological because no progesterone
Etiology: Unopposed Estrogen – nulliparty, obesity, granulosa theca tumor, polycystic ovarian disease, HRT in postmenopausal women and Tamoxifen (agonist of the estrogen receptor causing endometrial hyperplasia but antagonist in the breast) and adrenal cortical adenoma from zone reticulosis (This is the one they will put on the test)
What are the two types of endometrial hyperplasia?
Simple Cyst --with or without atypia --less glands thats why its "Simple" Complex: --with or without atypia --more glands that why its "complex" (more back to back glands changes the architecture of the glands as well)