What is Endometrial Biopsy?

Endometrial biopsy is an office procedure that serves as a helpful tool in diagnosing various uterine abnormalities.  The biopsy is obtained through the use of an endometrial suction catheter that is inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity.

The procedure is most often performed to find out the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. Abnormal bleeding includes bleeding between menstrual periods, excessive bleeding during a menstrual period, or bleeding after menopause. Since abnormal uterine bleeding can indicate cancer, an endometrial biopsy is done to rule out endometrial cancer or hyperplasia (a potentially precancerous condition).

Endometrial biopsies are also done as a screening test for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy usually requires a woman to take estrogen and progesterone. An endometrial biopsy is particularly useful in cases where postmenopausal women take estrogen, but cannot take progesterone. Estrogen in the system without the balancing effect of progesterone has been linked to an increased risk of endometrial cancer.