Examination by a gynecologist on a chair cannot give a complete picture of what is happening in the body, so almost every appointment ends with an ultrasound referral. Very often during ultrasound, you can hear such an incomprehensible expression as "thickness and structure of the m-echo." What this is and why such an indicator is needed is not clear to every woman, however, it is these values that can indicate cycle disorders and diseases. An important study of this indicator and the onset of a long-awaited pregnancy. So what does m-echo mean and why is its measurement so important?
M-echo measurement
First you need to determine the value. By the way, such a concept is used not only by gynecology. M-echo in this case is the uterine mucosa, or endometrium. It is the thickness of the latter that doctors so carefully measure, along with the structure of the mucosa, it must correspond to a specific day of the cycle. During its development, the endometrium is divided into two layers - the basal and functional, all kinds of deviations can indicate various diseases.
Endometrium on the bottomDensity and thickness of the endometrium throughout the cycle varies significantly. To determine the norms, an average duration of 28 days is taken.
So, what happens in the uterus during this period of time? What is the reason for the m-echo being too small and too large, what can this mean and what is the correct dynamics of structural change?
The monthly cycle has three phases, which in turn are divided into stages. During this time, an increase and decrease in the endometrium occurs.
In the first two days of monthly bleeding, the endometrium should not have a clear structure, on the contrary, the mucous membrane is heterogeneous, due to an increase in the uterus and the presence of blood clots and mucus in it.
Next comes the regeneration stage, in which only the walls of the uterus make up the m-echo. What does it mean? Mucous at this time is only the formation of small echogenicity to a thickness of 0.5 cm.
From the 5th to the 7th day, it decreases, the m-echo thickens and acquires high sound conductivity. At the middle stage of proliferation, this is the 10th day, in the center of the endometrium, a hyperechoic layer up to 1 cm thick is determined, it usually remains until the end of the third phase.
However, very often a clearly layered endometrium is not observed, but looks rather uniform, which is most likely due to the peculiarities of its structure and image quality.
Endometrial problems
With the right hormonal background, the development of the uterine mucosa should proceed according to the scheme:
- for 1 and 2 days - not less than 0.5, but not more than 0.9 cm - the beginning of the bleeding phase, the stage of desquamation;
- for 3 and 4 days - not less than 0.3, but not more than 0.5 cm - stage of regeneration;
- for days 5, 6, and 7 — not less than 0.6, but not more than 0.9 cm — the beginning of the proliferation phase;
- for 8, 9 and 10 days - not less than 0.8 and not more than 1.0 cm;
- from 11 to 14 days - at least 0.9 and not more than 1.3 cm;
- from 15 to 18 days - not less than 1.0 and not more than 1.6 cm - the beginning of the secretion phase;
- from 19 to 24 days - not less than 1.0 and not more than 2.1 cm;
- from 25 to 27 days - not less than 1.0, but not more than 1.8 cm.
If there are violations, then additional studies are needed that will refute or confirm the deviations. Enlarged m-echo, what does that mean? If glandular cystic formations are observed with an increased m-echo, then this is a sign of benign tumors, if there are oval neoplasms with a distinct body and leg, these are polyps. After the onset of menopause, such changes can be attributed to precancerous conditions of the endometrium.