Some of the more common factors that can influence the thickness of the lining of the uterus include hormonal imbalances and abnormally short menstrual cycles. A woman may also experience problems with the thickness of her uterine lining due to the fertility drugs she is taking or the blood supply to the uterus. Conditions that directly affect this reproductive organ, as well as infections and scarring, may also play a role.
Among the most common problems that affect the thickness of the lining of the uterus are those that involve hormones. For reproductive health, a woman's hormones generally need to be kept in good balance. A woman's uterine lining can be negatively affected when estrogen levels in her body are too low, and the hormone progesterone can also affect the lining. For example, if a person has too little progesterone in her body, she may develop a condition called endometrial hyperplasia, which is characterized by excessive thickening of the uterine lining. Too little progesterone can also cause a woman's lining to shed too early during her menstrual cycle.
Another problem that can affect the thickness of the lining of the uterus is abnormal menstrual bleeding. When a woman's menstrual cycle is abnormally short or she experiences abnormal bleeding throughout her cycle, the lining may never grow as thick as expected. This is particularly important when a woman is trying to conceive, as a reasonably thick lining is critical for the successful implantation of a fertilized egg.
Insufficient blood flow to the uterus can also negatively affect the thickness of a woman's uterine lining. There are several problems that can affect blood flow to this organ. Among the most common are high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension; blood clotting disorders; and sometimes a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome, which is characterized by multiple ovarian cysts.
Sometimes the medications a woman uses to increase her chances of conceiving can also interfere with the thickening of the uterine lining. For example, some fertility drugs alter the processes the body goes through to make hormones to prepare for a possible pregnancy. As such, some of these medications thin the uterine lining. This can be corrected, in some cases, by taking a different medication, discontinuing its use, or supplementing with additional estrogen.
Anything that negatively affects the uterus can contribute to changes in the thickness of the uterine lining. For example, a person may have a thinned uterine lining as a result of surgery on the uterus or a uterine infection. Scarring of the uterus can also cause this problem.