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Endometrial Biopsy
About this test
An endometrial
biopsy is a way for your doctor to take a small sample
of the lining of the uterus (endometrium 
). The sample is looked at
under a microscope for abnormal cells. An endometrial biopsy helps your doctor
find problems in the endometrium. It also lets your doctor check to see if
your body's hormone levels that affect the endometrium are in balance.
The lining of the uterus changes throughout a woman's
menstrual cycle. Early in the menstrual cycle, the
lining grows thicker until a mature egg is released from an ovary (ovulation ). If the egg is
not fertilized by a sperm, the lining is shed during normal menstrual
bleeding.
There are several ways to do an endometrial biopsy. Your doctor may use:
- A soft, strawlike device (pipette) to suction a small sample of lining from the uterus. This method is fast and is not very painful.
- A sharp-edged tool called a curette. Your doctor will scrape a small sample and collect it with a syringe or suction. This is called a dilation and curettage (D&C). A D&C may be done to control heavy uterine bleeding (hemorrhage) or to help find the cause of bleeding. This is done with general or regional anesthesia.
- An electronic suction device (Vabra aspiration). This method can be uncomfortable.
- A spray of liquid (jet irrigation) to wash off some of the tissue that lines the uterus. A brush may be used to remove some of the lining before the washing is done.
When a woman is having a hard time getting pregnant, an endometrial biopsy may be done to see whether the lining of her uterus can support a pregnancy.
An endometrial biopsy may also be done to find the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding, to check for overgrowth of the lining (endometrial hyperplasia), or to check for cancer.
An endometrial biopsy is sometimes done at the same time as another test, called hysteroscopy, which allows your doctor to look through a small lighted tube at the lining of the uterus.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 15, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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