Effect of Body Mass Index on Endometrial Thickness in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women

Aim: To investigate the correlation between body mass index and endometrial thickness in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Material and Method: This prospective cohort study was conducted on 114 postmenopausal women who followed at Bakirkoy Woman and Child Disease Research and Educational Hospital. The study group composed of 30 postmenopausal women endometrial thickness >= 5mm and control group composed of 84 postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness < 5mm. The groups were analyzed according to body mass index. The endometrial biopsy was performed from the study group by Pipelle endometrial sampler. The results were compared by using Student-t test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: In the study group body mass index and estrodiol levels were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05, p<0.05). The mean thickness of the endometrium was 6.76 +/- 1.14 mm in the study group and 2.83 +/- 0.99 mm in the control group (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between body mass index and endometrial thickness (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between two groups as to age, menopause time, estrodiol and progesteron levels. Discussion: Asymptomatic obese postmenopausal women have a high risk of developing endometrial pathologies. Although screening for endometrial pathology is not recommended for the general population, for high-risk populations like obese postmenopausal women, it may be important.