The inverted, pear shaped, sex organ of the female reproductive system, that consists of a body and a cervix is called the uterus. This muscular organ measures around 7.5 cm in length, 5 cm in breadth and weighs about 40 grams.
During pregnancy, the uterus becomes enlarged and softened. However, when the uterus becomes enlarged due to reasonsother than pregnancy, it calls for immediate medical attention.
Reasons For Enlarged Uterus
There are multiple factors which can cause the uterus to increase in size. Most women suffer from enlarged uterus during their menopausal years. Routine pelvic examinations by a gynecologist can reveal if a woman is suffering from an enlarged uterus. The most common symptoms of an enlarged uterus are pain and inflammation in the pelvic region. It is extremely important to discern the factor or factors which can cause the uterus to become swollen or distended.
Fibroids
Most women suffer from an enlarged uterus due to the presence of benign growths, along the uterine walls, called fibroids. These lumps or growths are extremely common in women between the ages of thirty and forty. Uterine fibroids are also responsible for heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, difficulty in passing urine and foul smelling vaginal discharge. A routine pelvic examination by a gynecologist can reveal whether a woman is suffering from uterine fibroids or not.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a painful medical condition wherein the endometrial tissue grows inside the muscular walls of the uterus. Adenomyosis is a common problem among older women especially those who have undergone a uterine surgery or delivered children via C-section. Besides causing the uterus to become inflamed, adenomysosis is also responsible for extreme pain and cramping during menstruation as well as heavy menstrual bleeding.
PCOS Or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS is the acronym used to denote the medical condition commonly referred to as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is one the major factors responsible for an enlarged uterus. During the menstrual cycle the body sheds the endometrial lining. However, in some women this uterine lining is not discarded by the body and this in turn can interfere with the normal menstrual cycle. Accumulation or build up of endometrial lining over a period of time can result in uterine inflammation.
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer normally afflicts older women especially those older than fifty. Uterine cancer or endometrial cancer is one the causative agents behind an enlarged uterus. Endometrial cancer can also cause a woman to suffer from excessive pain during sexual intercourse and endure extreme difficulty while passing urine.
Pregnancy
A very normal reason for uterine enlargement is pregnancy. Uterine enlargement caused by pregnancy should not be a cause for undue medical concern.
Menopause
There is an enlargement of the uterus around the time of menopause. The main reason behind uterine enlargement during menopause is fluctuating hormone levels. Because of the erratic body hormones the uterus can increase in size. In most cases the uterus goes back to its ordinary size after a woman has achieved complete menopause.
Ovarian Cysts
The fluid filled sacs or vesicles which are found inside ovaries are referred to as ovarian cysts. Ovarian cysts are responsible for variety of health problems including excruciating back pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, enlargement or inflammation of the uterus and difficulty in passing urine