Yes partly true.
The endometrium (womb lining) thickens in response to oestrogen stimulation - as in the normal menstrual cycle. This is called the proliferative phase - and I presume still takes place during the peri-menopause and with cyclical HRT post-menopause.
Endometrial hyperplasia is a specific condition related to the structural changes that may take place in the lining when overthickening occurs for whatever reason (this is my understanding). It sounds quite complex and you can read about it here:
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/classification-and-diagnosis-of-endometrial-hyperplasia"Normal proliferative endometrium exhibits no crowding of glands within the stroma". The stroma is the base layer of cells from what I've read.
There are then various stages of hyperplasia starting with simple through to complex and depending on whether the cells are typical or not - complex hyperplasia with atypia is the one most likely to lead to cancer.
So - not all thickened linings become hyperplasic - but it is one stage on the road to it, which is why docs are cautious. Also it is particularly releant to post-menopausal women who (unless on cuclical HRT) do not have a cycle, and those on conti HRT need to have sufficient progesterone to prevent thickening.
andius - many doctors are female ...
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