Histological patterns in endometrial samples from perimenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of endometrial histology patterns in perimenopausal women.

METHODS

Endometrial biopsies (202) taken from perimenopausal women by suction curette were assessed by light microscopy.

RESULTS

Out of 142 adequate specimens a total of 82 (57.7%) specimens could not be classified in the well-defined categories of the fertile period because of mixed histological patterns. Of the 142 specimens, 59 (41.5%) showed abnormal secretory endometrium, three (2%) disordered proliferative endometrium and 20 (14.1%) a mixture of non-secretory and secretory endometrium.

CONCLUSION

The often used histological classification for endometrium, with well-defined regular patterns based on normal cyclic changes, often does not apply to endometrial tissue obtained from perimenopausal women due to a mixed pattern within one biopsy.