What causes endometrial cancer?

We all know that endometrial cancer is a particularly serious disease that plagues women's health. This disease generally occurs in older women. In recent years, this disease has shown an upward trend. This disease makes women feel scared and makes women pay close attention to this disease, so everyone must understand its causes.

Anovulatory functional uterine bleeding:

For example, in patients with functional uterine bleeding accompanied by anovulation or luteal dysfunction, long-term menstrual disorders cause the endometrium to be continuously stimulated by estrogen, without progesterone to counteract or with insufficient progesterone, the endometrium lacks cyclical changes and is in a state of proliferativeness for a long time.

Infertility:

Infertility, especially infertility caused by ovarian anovulation, significantly increases the risk of endometrial cancer. Among patients with endometrial cancer, about 20% have a history of infertility. These patients do not ovulate or ovulate too little, resulting in a lack or insufficiency of progesterone, which causes the endometrium to be continuously stimulated by estrogen. During pregnancy, the placenta produces estrogen and progesterone, which causes the endometrium to undergo corresponding changes during pregnancy. During lactation, due to the actions of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the ovarian function is temporarily suppressed, thus protecting the endometrium from estrogen stimulation. Infertility, especially infertility caused by anovulation, causes the endometrium to be in a state of proliferative state for a long time.

obesity:

Excessive obesity can lead to endometrial cancer. For female friends, too much fat will increase the storage of estrogen and increase the conversion of androstenedione to estrone in plasma. This increase in free and active estrone may be a carcinogenic factor or a cancer-promoting factor for endometrial cancer.

Late menopause:

According to relevant reports, the risk of endometrial cancer in women aged >52 is 1.5 to 2.5 times that of those who reach menopause before 45. Women who reach menopause late do not ovulate in the last few years, which only prolongs the duration of estrogen action. Late menarche (delayed menarche) is a protective effect against endometrial cancer, especially for premenopausal women. Late menarche can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by 50%. Delayed menarche can reduce the continuous stimulation of estrogen on the endometrium.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:

Among patients with endometrial cancer under the age of 40, those with polycystic ovary syndrome have long-lasting ovarian follicles but cannot mature and reach ovulation, which causes the endometrium to be under continuous estrogen stimulation. The lack of progesterone regulation and periodic endometrial shedding leads to proliferative changes in the endometrium. The androgen level in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is also increased, about 3 to 4 times higher than that of the average person. Androgen can be converted into estrone, leading to endometrial hyperplasia or proliferation, and then atypical hyperplasia and even endometrial cancer. Girls with polycystic ovary syndrome are 4 times more likely to develop endometrial cancer in the future than girls of the same age with normal menstruation.

Ovarian Tumors:

Ovarian tumors that produce estrogen, such as granulosa cell tumors and thecomas, are associated with endometrial cancer in approximately 25% of pure thecomas.

Knowing the causes of endometrial cancer, we must pay attention to it. Knowing the causes of endometrial cancer can help us prevent it in our daily lives and prevent it from happening to us. This will ensure our health and keep us healthy and happy.