ISSN: 2161-0681
Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
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  • Review Article   
  • J Clin Exp Pathol 2016, Vol 6(2): 272
  • DOI: 10.4172/2161-0681.1000272

Histopathological Study of Endometrium in Cases of Infertility

Sharma V*, Saxena V and Khatri SL
Department of Pathology, NIMS University, Karnal, Haryana, India
*Corresponding Author: Sharma V, Department of Pathology, NIMS University, Karnal, Haryana, India, Tel: +917568292527, Email: vidsharma84@gmail.com

Received: 01-Jun-2015 / Accepted Date: 26-Apr-2016 / Published Date: 28-Apr-2016 DOI: 10.4172/2161-0681.1000272

Abstract

A study of 50 cases of primary and secondary infertility was carried out in the department of pathology NIMS Medical College Jaipur. Endometrial specimens were evaluated in the light of menstrual history to find out the incidence of various endometrial changes in cases of infertility. All cease underwent endometrial biopsy premenstrual. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was done for dating of endometrium and diagnosis of corpus luteal defect and anovalutory cycles. PAS was also done. Menstrual problems were seen in 38% of patients. Anovulatory infertility was present in 28% cases. Luteal phase defect was seen in 20% cases. Cystoglandular hyperplasia was seen in 6% cases & tuberculous endometritis was present in 2.0% cases. Glycogen deficiency was seen in 30% cases of luteal phase defect.

Keywords: Infertility; Endometrium; Anovulatory infertility; Haematoxylin

Introduction

Infertility is worldwide problem. Approximately one marriage is ten is barren, Sophia [1]. In India there are an estimated 10.2 million couples of infertility, dawn [2]. The purpose of investigating the infertile couple is to assess their chance of achieving a pregnancy and to identify the factors amenable to treatment. Inspite of many investigatory tools available endometrial histology is a sensitive indicator of ovarian function. Premenstrual endometrial biopsy plays an important diagnostic role in cases of infertility.

Materials and Methods

Endometrial biopsies of 50 cases of primary and secondary infertility were received in department of pathology, NIMS medical college, Jaipur, during the period of june 2013 to june 2014. Detailed clinical history regarding menstrual cycle, last menstrual period, age at marriage and obstetric history was obtained. Clinical examination was carried out in each case. Premenstrual endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained.

The material was processed and paraffin embedded sections of 5 microns were cut. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections were studied to date the endometrium accurately based on the criteria describe by Dallenbach Hellweg [3].

Periodic acid Schiff staining was done in 50 cases & 25 normal controls to detect the amount of glycogen. PAS positivity was graded as nil, scanty, moderate and abundant arzac and blanchet [4]. The findings were analysed to find out the incidence of various changes in infertile endometrium.

Observation

Amongst 50 cases of infertility 37 cases (74%) were of primary infertility, 13 (26%) cases were of secondary infertility.

The maximum numbers of patient were in the age range of 21-30 years. The youngest patient was 18 years old and the oldest was 40 years. In primary infertility group 40% patient came in 2-3 years duration of infertility. In secondary infertility group 38.46% patients came in 6-7 years duration after last conception.

Menstrual problems were seen in 8 (21.62%) cases of primary infertility and 3 (23.08%) cases of secondary infertility. Irregular menses were seen in 14 (37.84%) cases of primary infertility & 5 (38.46%) cases of secondary infertility. 50 endometrial specimens were analysed for the incidence of changes in endometria (Table 1).

Histological diagnosis Primary infertility no of cases 155 % Secondary infertility no of cases 45 %
Normal secretory endometrium 23 62.16 9 69.23
Proliferative (anovulatory) endometrium 11 29.73 3 23.08
Cystroglandular hyperplasia 2 5.40 1 7.69
Tuberculousendometritis 1 2.70 - -

Table 1: Incidence of changes in endometria.

Anovulatory endometrium was seen in 11 (29.7%) cases of primary infertility and 3 (23.08%) cases of secondary infertility. 1 case of primary infertility showed endometrial tuberculosis. Zeihl neelsen staining for AFB was negative in all 1 case (Table 2).

Glycogen Content Grade (Pas Staining) Proliferative Phase 15 Cases Secretory Phase 20 Cases Luteal Phase Defect 15 Cases
  Primary Secondary Primary Secondary Primary Secondary
0 11 3 - - - -
+ - - - - 3 1
++ - - 1 - 4 1
+++ - - 2 1 - -
++++ - - 8 1 - -
Total 11 3 11 2 7 2
Grand Total 14 13 9

Table 2: Histology and glycogen content in the endometrium of patient with infertility.

The glycogen content was graded as follow arzac & blanchet:

O – Negative reaction

+ - Very small granules

++ - Coarse granules

+++ - Small masses

Discussion

Human endometrium is important site in nidation in young fertilized ovum, myaema [5]. Present studies evaluated the adequacy of endometrial development based on correlating menstrual history with glandular & stromal morphology.

Adequate follicular development & functionally efficient corpus luteum formation are the essential prerequisites for the preparation of good endometrial bed which is essential for successful implantation of blastocyst & continuation of pregnancy [6].

The diagnosis of luteal phase defect was made by using jone’s criteria [7]. According to him luteal phase defect is defined as lag more than two days in histological development of endometrium compared to the day of cycle.

Histopathological abnormalities in the form of anovulatory endometrium and luteal phase defect formed major cause of infertility in present series and observed by other authors (Table 3)

  % of anovulatory endometrium % of ovulatory endometrium
Shetty (1959) [8] 15.2 74.8%
Gupta et al. (1980) [9] 22.8 68.5%
Sareen (1984) [10] 19 79%
Jadhav and raichur (1987) [11] 25 75%
Sabharwalbd (1987) [12] 12 84%
Krishnamohan et al. (1993) [13] 10% 87.5%
Neil shastrabudhe (2001) [14] 34.2% 62.3%
Present study (2002) 28.2% 67.4%

Table 3: Histopathological abnormalities in the form of anovulatory endometrium and luteal phase defect.

Anovulatory cycles are quite common in cases of infertility. In present study anovulatory endometrium was present in 28.2% cases. The secretory phase of endometrium in the premenstrual period is indicative of ovulation and thus it rules out anovulation as a cause of infertility. Luteal phase defect may be the cause of infertility in ovulatory cycles. In present study luteal phase defect was, seen in 20% cases. Wentz ac [15,16], Soules M [17], and Kumar A found luteal phase defect in 19%, 16% and 5% of infertility patients respectively.

Tuberculous endometritis and cystoglandular hyperplasia formed a minor cause of infertility in present studies. Rani PR [18] found that in patients of genital tuberculosis, the most common site of involvement is endometrium in 46.6% cases. Manjiri [19] and Kumar A [20], Nagpal M [21] found endometrial involvement in 86.66%, 50% and 60% respectively in patient of genital tuberculosis. Nandita B [22] and Tripathy [23] found the endometrial tuberculosis present with complaint of infertility in 79.04% and 58% respectively (Table 4).

Author & year % of tuberculousendometritis
Zawar et al. 2.6%
Sathe et al. 6%
Schaefer 5.1%
Gupta et al. [24] 8.7%
Sareen [10] 2%
Sabharwal [12] 1.34%
P. Chakroborty 6.2%
R. Mishra 4.9%
Shastrabudhe N [14] 2.6%
Present study 2%

Table 4: Incidence of tuberculous endometritis in present series observed by other a uthor.

The endometrial hyperplasia due to excess level of estrogen can also prevent pregnancy. In present study cystoglandular hyperplasia was seen in 1.8% of cases (Table 5).

Author & year Glycogen deficiency in %
Zondek and stein 18.4%
Shetty [8] 44.6%
Zawar et al. 30%
Anshu et al. 24.7%
Rohtangi 22.5%
Sareen [10] 39%
S. Sharma [25] 28.5%
Present study 28.13%

Table 5: Glycogen deficiency as a cause of infertility observed by various authors.

Gupta et al. [9], sabharwal [12], Krishnamohan [13] and shastrabudhe [14] found hyperplasia in 5.9%, 2.66%, and 4.4% respectively.

In present study, PAS stain was done in 50 cases of infertility to assess the amount of glycogen content. For the proper implantation and subsequent growth and development of fertlized ovum in the uterus. It is necessary that adeqaute amount of carbohydrate in general and glycogen in particular should be present in the glandular secretions. In the endometrium the high glycogen content of these glands serve as a major source of energy for maintain an embryo.

Conclusion

Histopathological study of endometrium forms an important safe and cheaper diagnostic tool in cases of primary and secondary infertility.

In present study anovulatory endometrium and luteal phase defect formed etiological basis of many cases in infertility. In the present studies of glycogen deficiency seen mainly in the luteal phase defect indicating histopathological immaturity of endometrium.

References

  1. Kleegman SJ, Kaufmann SA (1966) Infertility in women. 1st edn, FA Davis Company Publisher, Philadelphia, USA, pp: 178.
  2. Dawn CS (1976) Textbook of Gynaecology, 5 Edn, Dawn Books, Calcutta, India.
  3. DallenbachH (1980) Histopathology of Endometrium, 4th edn, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
  4. Arzac JP, Blanchet E (1948) Alkaline phosphatase and glycogen in human endometrium. J ClinEndocrinolMetab 8: 315-324.
  5. Majhi AK (2002) Luteal phase defect: still a mystery in female infertility. Obstetgynaecol today.
  6. Gupta AN, Vashishtak AS (1980) Study of Endometrium in Infertile Women. J ObstetGynaecol India.
  7. Jadhav MV, Raichur BS (1987) Special stains in study of normal and abnormal endometrium. Indian J PatholMicrobiol 30: 307-311.
  8. Shastrabudhe NS, Shinde S, Jadhav MV (2001) Endometrium in Infertile Women. J ObstetGynaecol.
  9. Wentz AC, Kossoy LR, Parker RA (1990) The impact of luteal phase inadequacy in an infertile population. Am J ObstetGynecol 162: 937-943.
  10. Soules MR (1987) Luteal phase deficiency. An underdiagnosed and overtreated reproductive endocrine disorder. ObstetGynecolClin North Am 14: 865-886.
  11. Mridu M, Khanna S, Kahlon SK (1993) Genital Tuberculosis.Asian j obstet 1993.
  12. Tripathy SN, Tripathy SN (2002) Infertility and pregnancy outcome in female genital tuberculosis. Int J GynaecolObstet 76: 159-163.
  13. Driessen F, Holwerda PJ, vdPutte SC, Kremer J (1980) The significance of dating an endometrial biopsy for the prognosis of the infertile couple. Int J Fertil 25: 112-116.
  14. Wentz AC, Kossoy LR, Parker RA (1990) The impact of luteal phase inadequacy in an infertile population. Am J ObstetGynecol 162: 937-943.
  15. Aikat BK, Pathak IV (1952) Gupta Tuberculosis of Endometrium. J ObstetGyanecol.
  16. Zondek B, Shapino A (1942) Endometrial Glycogen Content In Infertiltiy. Am J Obstet.
  17. Schaefer G (1976) Female genital tuberculosis. ClinObstetGynecol 19: 223-239.
  18. Baveja R, Verma HC (1972) Endometrial Glycogen in Infertilrty. Proc all indiaobsyetgyanecol cong.
  19. Gupta PL, Jethani M (1994) Endometrial Glycogen- An impIrtant Parameter of Infertility. J ObstetGyanecol India.
  20. Sharma SC, Banarjee AK, Hasan MI (1984) Endometrial Glycogen in Sterlity. J obstetgyanecolindia.

Citation: Sharma V, Saxena V, Khatri SL (2016) Histopathological Study of Endometrium in Cases of Infertility. J Clin Exp Pathol 6:272. DOI: 10.4172/2161-0681.1000272

Copyright: © 2016 Sharma V, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Review summary

  1. Kawata I
    Posted on Jul 14 2016 at 11:49 pm
    The manuscript is well written and patient examples are well chosen. The topic of study is of interest and general importance. The manuscript is worth publishing in the journal. The data summarized in this article may help in the treatment of clinical cases on infertility.

Review summary

  1. Kawata I
    Posted on Jul 14 2016 at 11:49 pm
    The manuscript is well written and patient examples are well chosen. The topic of study is of interest and general importance. The manuscript is worth publishing in the journal. The data summarized in this article may help in the treatment of clinical cases on infertility.

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