Endometrium: Functional Disturbances

Abstract

The endometrium is exquisitely sensitive to ovarian hormones, and disturbances of ovarian function are accurately reflected by changes in endometrial morphology. These latter changes often allow recognition of the nature of the endocrinological disorder providing that a full and accurate history, which includes details of the menstrual cycle, the date of the last menstrual period and information about administration of hormones or drugs, is made available to the pathologist. Some of the abnormalities discussed in this section occur in ovulatory cycles and others in anovulatory cycles but all, although often asymptomatic, can give rise to complaints of abnormal or irregular uterine bleeding or of infertility.