us increases in size, continuing to enlarge with the baby,” says Dr. Young. “After the baby is born, the uterine muscle fibers start to contract, and over the course of eight to 10 weeks it shrinks back to just a little bigger than it was before she got pregnant.”
Think of the uterus as a baby incubator. It expands to accommodate the baby and also works with the placenta to supply the baby with nutrients. When it’s time for the baby to be born, the uterus contracts to expel the baby and the placenta. It then shrinks back down and gets ready to start the whole cycle again.
Problems with the Uterus
“One of the most common problems that a woman has with her uterus is excessive bleeding,” says Dr. Young. “A lot of women have to use a pad and a tampon every couple of hours lasting for days. For many women, their periods keep them from living a normal life.”
Women can have problems with weakness of vaginal tissue, which causes other problems such as bladder leakage, the feeling that something is falling out, pressure in the vagina, and even problems with sex. “Another problem is pelvic pain that can be caused by infection, growths like fibroids or ovarian tumors, diseases like endometriosis, and/or pain from nearby organs like the bowel or bladder,” says Dr. Young.
A uterus can also develop hyperplasia, which is the thickening and crowding of the lining cells. According to Dr. Wilson, this can cause heavy or irregular bleeding and generally occurs in women who are in their 40s and 50s. If not treated, hyperplasia can develop into cancer of the uterine lining. This is called endometrial carcinoma and can often be cured if caught early. Cancer of the uterine muscle is called leiomyosarcoma and is a very deadly cancer, although rare.
4 Tips for a Healthy Uterus
Dr. Wilson gives the following tips for keeping your uterus healthy:
- Regular physician visits are essential. A pap smear is done to check for abnormal cells on the cervix. An internal exam is done to check for abnormalities of the uterus such as fibroid tumors or cancer of the uterus.
- Report any abnormal bleeding to your doctor. Abnormally heavy or irregular bleeding is often the first sign that a woman is developing fibroid tumors, adenomyosis, or hyperplasia.
- Report any pain to your doctor. Fibroid tumors can affect up to 50 percent of women and, although they are generally benign, can cause serious bleeding and pain. Fibroids can affect women of any age but are most common in the 30s and 40s. We do not know what causes fibroids, but they tend to run in families. If your mother and sisters had fibroids, you are likely to have them also.
- Uterine cancer occurs more frequently in women who are overweight. A low-fat diet and exercise are your best bet in preventing cancer of the uterus.
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