What are the causes of endometrial cancer

What are the causes of endometrial cancer?

The cause of endometrial cancer is not very clear. Most authors believe that there are two types of endometrial cancer, and there may be two pathogenesis mechanisms. One type is younger, and under the long-term action of estrogen without progesterone antagonism, the endometrium undergoes proliferative changes, which eventually lead to cancer, but the tumor is well differentiated; the other type has an unclear pathogenesis, which may be related to gene mutations and is more common in postmenopausal elderly people with thin bodies and low estrogen levels. Around the cancer focus may be atrophic endometrium, the tumor is highly malignant, poorly differentiated, and has a poor prognosis.

The following risk factors are common for endometrial cancer:

1. Anovulation: If there is no ovulation or corpus luteum dysfunction, long-term menstrual disorders will cause the endometrium to continue to be stimulated by estrogen, without progesterone to counteract or with insufficient progesterone, the endometrium lacks cyclical changes and proliferates for a long time.

2. Infertility: Infertility, especially infertility caused by ovarian anovulation, significantly increases the risk of endometrial cancer. About 15% to 20% of patients with endometrial cancer have a history of infertility. These patients lack or are insufficient in progesterone due to anovulation or anovulation, causing the endometrium to be continuously stimulated by estrogen.

3. Obesity: Obesity, especially after menopause, significantly increases the risk of endometrial cancer. According to statistics, if you are 9 to 23 kg overweight according to the standard weight, and if you are overweight > 23 kg, the risk increases 10 times.