Atypia Is NOT An Absolute Indication For Hysterectomy

Question:

Hi Dr. Ramirez,

I'm a Canadian, temporarily living in South Africa. Greetings from Pretoria!

I'm 44 yrs old, diagnosed with PCOS at age 33, on metformin 500mg 2/day since then. I've got about 45 pounds to lose and have been slowly and steadily losing pounds since May (5 kg). I've never been able to get pregnant and throughout my 20s and early 30s, I went months without menstruation. Weight came on very quickly. I exercise regularly.

My new gyne here found a myoma in my uterus in August during my yearly exam. I had bleeding between periods almost every day for a few months. Some days it was spotting; other days it was heavier. The myoma was removed hysteroscopically and examined. The biopsy of the tumour shows atypical cells and the lab report summarizes the microscopy as "these features are most suggestive of an adenomyomatous (endometrial) polyp with focal atypia against the background of a proliferative endometrium."

I understand I need to remove my uterus.The doctor can do the surgery vaginally. Is uterus removal the best course of action? What can I do to prepare my body for no uterus? And Is there anything I can do to protect my ovaries going forward?

Thanks for your help in advance. S. from South Africa

Answer:

Hello S. from Canada and South Africa,

Atypia is NOT a absolute indication for hysterectomy, so no, you don't necessarily need to have your uterus removed. Atypia is not cancer, it is a pre-cancerous finding. It is possible that the only area of atypia was already removed, which then would have solved the problem. A repeat D&C should be done to evaluate the rest of the endometrial tissue. Also you should be cycles for three months then rechecked again by endometrial biopsy or D&C. If there is no abnormality found, then no other testing or treatment needs to be done other than keep you cycling on the birth control pill.

However, if you want you uterus out, and that is understandable, it is certainly a option for you and a vaginal hysterectomy would be fine. Make sure that your doctor keeps the ovaries intact i.e. does not remove them. You still need them to produce adequate hormone that your body needs. It's your choice. Make sure your doctor understands and is told that you want to keep your ovaries. There is absolutely no reason to have them removed.

Thank you for your question all the way from South Aftrica, addressing a problem that many women around the world face as well.

Good luck,

Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.

Comment: Thank you Dr. Ramirez! Very timely and useful.

37 Yr. Old Australian Woman With Complex Hyperplasia With Atypia Does Not Want Hysterectomy: Wants To Conceive

Question:

I am a 37 yr old woman who has been trying to get pregnant since I was 16. I have never fallen pregnant that I know of. I have had a Laparoscopy to see if i have a blockage in my tubes-there was not. Last year I had mid cycle bleeding for a few months & went to doctors who did a LLETZ procedure and found I had complex hyperplasia with atpia. I was told to have a hysterectomy, but declined & said I would like to see if I can get pregnant through a Natropath here in Australia, because she has a 87% success rate of clients falling pregnant.

The findings from my last hysterscopy, dilation & curetteage & polypectomy were, cervix healthy, consistent with previous LLETZ. Uterus bulky 8 week size, cavity 10cms, endometrial polyp and hyperplastic endometrium, both ostia seen, Adenexa NAD.

What does all this mean? Could I still fall pregnant?. Can I die from having complex hyperplasia with atpia? Do I really need to have a hysterectomy or can it be left until after I fall pregnant? I am so confused & very distressed that I may never have children of my own. I have asked my surgeon that performed the lasts LLETZ procedure and all he said was he wants me to have a hysterectomy, I don't want to have one, because I think he is being a little knife happy. What would you suggest? Thank you. D. From Australia

Answer:

Hello D. from Australia,

Complex hyperplasia with atypia is an endometrial diagnosis and not a cervical diagnosis. It is a worrisome diagnosis because of the possibility that it could develop into a uterine cancer. It needs to be treated and in a woman who wants to maintain her fertility potential, is usually treated with depo provera injections for a 6 month period. Rebiopsy is then done to make sure that it is resolved. This diagnosis does NOT require a hysterectomy necessarily. If it is successfully treated with progesterone, that is all that is required. Another possible treatment option is D&C to clear the endometrial tissue. I would not simply ignore it.

At your age, if you want pregnancy and have never been able to achieve it, you should be under the care of an infertility specialist, who is also a gynecologist and should be able to care for both problems. I do not know of any physician in anywhere in the world who can claim an 87% pregnancy rate. If that were indeed true, people would be flocking to see her from all over the world and forsaking us infertility specialists! NO treatment is that good, and such a claim is highly suspicious. I hope you do not waste your time because age is a critical factor for you and your chances are decreasing rapidly.

Good Luck,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG

Executive Medical Director

The Fertility and Gynecology Center

Monterey Bay IVF Program

http://www.montereybayivf.com/

Monterey, California, U.S.A.

Comment: Thank you so much for giving me a direct answer. The surgeon I had wouldn't give me a direct answer.You have been very helpful. I have been to the Monash Ivf Clinic but there findings after all the tests were that I have unexplained infertility, which is very frustrating, That is why I thought I would try a natropath. But I still have my fingers crossed that one day I will have a baby. Thank you again.