What does it mean if the uterus is enlarged? What you need to know about cervical enlargement: causes of pathology, methods of treatment, diagnosis and prevention

An increase in the size of the uterus is usually associated with the development of gynecological pathology or with the onset of pregnancy. This phenomenon can be observed in the following diseases: leiomyoma, adenomyosis, sarcoma and cancer. Changes in its size are most often not accompanied by symptoms. In other cases, a woman is bothered by nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, more abundant and painful menstruation, up to the development of bleeding, and malfunction of neighboring organs. If the diagnosis reveals that the uterus is enlarged, it is necessary to begin treatment.

Show all

Main reasons for the increase

An increase in the size of the uterus is detected during a routine gynecological examination by a doctor. In other cases, the pathology is diagnosed when a woman contacts her about symptoms that bother her. The reasons that lead to an increase in uterine size include:

hydatidiform mole;
fibroids;
adenomyosis;
sarcoma;

Physiological causes of increased size include intrauterine pregnancy. This fact can be easily established using a pelvic ultrasound and a special test. Due to the enlarged uterus, the belly of a pregnant woman begins to grow, especially after 12 weeks. The height of the fundus of the organ changes on average by 1 cm per week. In the early stages, this is visually imperceptible, and up to 5 weeks, the size of the uterus practically corresponds to the period before conception.

Myoma

Myoma is a benign tumor of the uterus, which in most cases leads to an increase in its size and does not manifest itself for a long time. In structure, it consists of connective tissue, muscle elements and/or a combination thereof. The density of formation depends on the predominance of certain components. The most dense fibroids consist entirely of connective tissue fibers.

The tumor can be represented by a single or numerous nodes of different sizes and locations. If myomatous nodes are located under the mucous membrane, deforming its cavity, then they are called submucosal. Myomas in the thickness of the muscular wall are intramural, and the nodes located on the surface of the uterine body under its serous membrane are subserous.

Various localizations of myomatous nodes

Submucosal nodes during the process of growth can separate from the body of the uterus, which is why a “leg” is formed.

Fibroids may be asymptomatic up to a certain point. It disrupts the contractility of the muscular lining of the uterus (myometrium). This is associated with changes in the menstrual cycle such as menorrhagia (menstruation becomes longer and more abundant). In other cases, menstruation takes on the character of bleeding, which is difficult to stop using conservative (medicinal) methods.

In advanced situations, fibroids can reach impressive sizes and put pressure on nearby organs and tissues (intestines, bladder) and impair their function. Constipation, difficulty and/or frequent urination, pain in the lower abdomen are the result of an enlarged uterus.

Adenomyosis (endometriosis)

Adenomyosis is a disease of the uterus associated with the penetration of endometrioid tissue, morphologically similar to the endometrium lining the uterine cavity from the inside, into its muscular wall and reaching the serous membrane covering the uterus from the outside. The pathological change is caused by an increase in the size of the organ due to diffusely located cystic cavities filled with hemorrhagic contents or nodular elements.

Endometriosis of the uterine body - adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is manifested by algomenorrhea (painful menstruation). Menstruation is especially painful at the very beginning. Menstruation with adenomyosis lengthens and becomes more abundant. Often, menstruation begins with spotting and spotting for several days and ends with it. They can turn into uterine bleeding.

Menstrual irregularities include intermenstrual bleeding, which appears in the middle of the cycle and lasts for several days.

With adenomyosis, young girls and women of reproductive age have problems not only with the cycle, but also with conceiving a child.

A good natural treatment for endometriosis is pregnancy. Postpartum symptomsdiseasesdo not bother or for a certainperiod(sometimes long lasting) disappear. Various gynecological herbal mixtures, boron uterus and clay are used as folk methods, but these methods are not effective.

Endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is a malignant lesion of the uterine mucosa. Pathological growths of newly formed tissue in the initial stages are limited to the endometrium. In severe cases, it covers the entire thickness of the uterus and its serous membrane, involving surrounding organs.

The uterus is enlarged with cancer to a lesser extent than with fibroids or adenomyosis. The main and often the only sign of an oncological process is heavy, prolonged periods, which force a woman to seek medical help.

In menopausal women, the main symptom is bleeding. They can be scanty or abundant. Pain syndrome with a malignant tumor of the uterus is usually expressed at the last stage of the oncological process. Unpleasant sensations are associated with the growth of the tumor into other organs.

Cervical cancer in an advanced stage also leads to its enlargement due to the spread of the process to its wall.

Sarcoma

Uterine sarcoma is a malignant lesion. Very rare. A characteristic feature is the rapid enlargement of the uterus - over several months - to enormous sizes. The symptoms are similar to fibroids and cancer: menorrhagia, menometrorrhagia (menstruation that takes on the character of bleeding), pain in the pelvis. Between menstruation, discharge from the genital tract is watery and profuse, with an unpleasant odor.

Sarcoma can occur in myomatous nodes. It can be suspected if fibroids grow rapidly in postmenopause. The prognosis even at the initial stage of sarcoma is unfavorable, the consequences are severe.

Content

Normally, the uterus in an adult woman who has given birth is about 7 cm in length and approximately 5 cm in width. It is a pear-shaped organ that is slightly tilted forward. Any deviations should cause concern among women and caution among doctors. An increase in the size of the organ or a large uterus can be both a symptom of pregnancy and a sign of a disease.

Reasons for the increase

The main reason for the increase in the size of the main reproductive organ is pregnancy. The uterus becomes large at the end of the first trimester. When conception occurs, it begins to gradually increase in size.

Normally, its parameters also change with age. It increases during adolescence. This is a natural process, so there is no need to panic.

In nulliparous women, the uterus almost 2 times less than those who do not have children. If the weight of this organ before pregnancy usually does not exceed 50 grams, then after childbirth it weighs 70-100 g.

But sometimes a change in size means problems have begun. The main pathological reasons for the uterus becoming large are:

fibroids;
endometriosis or adenomyosis;
the appearance of malignant tumors.

These are the main diseases that cause the uterus to become large.

Myoma

Benign tumors that appear in the uterine walls are called fibroids. Most often, this pathology occurs in women of childbearing age.

It leads to:

infertility;
problems with pregnancy;
bleeding.

Myomas are formed due to:

hormonal disorders in the body;
irregular sex life;
abortions;
traumatic birth;
genetic predisposition;
sedentary lifestyle;
chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid problems).

The attending gynecologist will help you understand what the appearance of fibroids means and how to proceed further when establishing such a diagnosis.

Endometriosis

A large uterus may mean endometriosis is developing. This is a disease in which the endometrium begins to grow uncontrollably and penetrate into the thickness of the myometrium.

A large uterus is usually diagnosed with adenomyosis. This is a condition in which the endometrium begins to grow inside the uterine muscles. As a result, the size of the muscle layer increases significantly. A gynecologist can notice an increase in the size of the main reproductive organ during a two-handed examination.

The causes of adenomyosis and endometriosis have not been precisely established. The following diseases can develop:

with hormonal imbalances;
after surgical gynecological interventions, including abortions;
as a result of tubal ligation.

This diagnosis means that treatment should begin immediately. Adenomyosis leads to bleeding, infertility and severe pain. Therapy is carried out both hormonally and surgically.

Malignant formations

Cancerous uterine tumors are predominantly detected in women during menopause. The main diagnostic sign is an increase in the size of the uterus, it becomes large.

The risk of developing a malignant tumor is higher in women who are obese. It is also necessary to carefully monitor the health of the reproductive system for those patients who have polycystic changes in the ovaries. These conditions are predisposing factors for the development of cancer. This means they have a higher risk of cancer.

Characteristic signs

It is impossible to independently detect an enlarged uterus. When the size of this organ changes, only some women experience unpleasant symptoms. Most often, problems are identified during the next gynecological examination. This means that you need to visit a gynecologist regularly and at least 1-2 times a year.

But there are a number of signs by which one can suspect that the uterus has become large. These include:

constant aching pain in the lower abdomen;
the appearance of urinary incontinence;
increased pain and profuseness of menstruation;
increased frequency of headaches;
the appearance of discomfort in the lumbar region;
soreness of the mammary glands.

If such signs appear, it is better to visit a gynecologist unscheduled than to miss the onset of the disease.

Diagnostics

A routine gynecological examination may reveal that the uterus has become larger than normal. The causes of this condition are clarified through additional examinations.

The main diagnostic method is ultrasound examination. With it you can:

detect pregnancy and set the exact date;
see formations in the uterus (fibroids or malignant tumors);
diagnose endometriosis (adenomyosis).

When detecting tumors with a certain degree of probability, based on the picture on the monitor screen, one can assume that they are benign or malignant. But the diagnosis can only be clarified by performing a biopsy.

If during a routine gynecological examination the doctor says that the uterus is large, then his words cannot be ignored. This usually means there are problems. Further examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis.

Most often, a woman is not aware of the changes that have occurred. The doctor informs her about the problem at the next examination. There may be several reasons for this not always good phenomenon, and some deserve close attention.

Causes that are not pathologies

Diseases

The uterus can be enlarged due to certain diseases. This symptom often accompanies fibroids. This is a benign tumor that forms on the muscle layer. Its cause may be lack of sexual activity, difficult childbirth, abortion, and hormonal imbalances. As a rule, hormonal therapy is prescribed to treat fibroids; less often, the tumor is surgically removed. However, both treatment methods are often combined.

The uterus increases in size with endometriosis. With this disease, the endometrium of this organ grows, and in some cases extends beyond its limits. The causes of endomitriosis are quite varied, so the doctor will not give a definite answer, since this area has not yet been fully studied. Treatment of the uterus for this disease is hormonal, less often surgical.

One of the reasons for the increase in the size of the uterus is cancer. This phenomenon occurs because a malignant tumor grows on the mucous membrane. In this case, a woman may be bothered by bleeding outside the menstrual cycle, with the exception of menopause, difficulty urinating, severe pain during sexual intercourse, and others. In this case, surgery is indicated, since conservative treatment methods often do not give positive results. However, in any case, you will need to contact a specialist who, based on the tests, will prescribe the optimal treatment. It is also important to visit a gynecologist twice a year, then you will be able to catch the disease at an early stage. This will make it possible to heal faster.

The size of the uterus changes slightly at different periods of a woman’s life. During pregnancy, the volume of the organ increases many times over, since the elastic walls are able to stretch, holding the growing fetus. If a non-pregnant woman's uterus is enlarged beyond normal, this is usually a warning sign. An examination is required to find out and possibly eliminate the cause of the violations. Doctors strongly recommend regular gynecological examinations for preventive purposes, since the consequences of such pathologies can be very serious.

Content:

The size of the uterus is normal

The uterus is located in the abdominal cavity between the bladder and rectum. The ligaments that hold it in a certain position do not allow it to fall. At the same time, it can move slightly forward or backward when the volume of neighboring organs changes, and can also be pulled up during pregnancy.

Normally, the organ has the following dimensions:

length (distance from the bottom to the end of the neck) – about 7-8 cm;
thickness (distance between the back and front walls) – about 5 cm;
width (between the side walls) – 4-6 cm.

The weight of the uterus in nulliparous women is approximately 50 g, in women who have given birth - about 100 g.

During pregnancy, as the fetus grows, the volume of the organ increases significantly. Before birth, its dimensions are:

length – approximately 37-38 cm;
thickness – up to 24 cm;
width – up to 26 cm;
weight (without fruit) – about 1.2 kg.

The size may increase even more if there is more than one fetus, and also if the woman has polyhydramnios. After childbirth, the uterus usually shrinks back to normal within a few months. Moreover, if a caesarean section was performed, recovery is much slower.

These indicators are average, conditional values. Small deviations associated with women’s differences in height, constitution, age, as well as the presence or absence of pregnancies (it matters whether they ended in childbirth or were interrupted) are quite acceptable.

The size of the uterus is determined using ultrasound. The gynecologist can make assumptions about the presence of pathological abnormalities by palpating the lower abdomen.

Natural causes of size deviations from the norm

In addition to pregnancy, other natural causes of a slight increase in the volume of the uterine cavity may be genetic features of the development of the genital organs in a woman.

Before menstruation, the enlargement of the uterus occurs due to thickening and swelling of the endometrium and increased blood supply to the muscles. After the end of menstruation, the size of the organ is restored.

During menopause, body tissues age, which leads to a decrease in their elasticity and a weakening of muscle tone. For this reason, the size of the uterus in a middle-aged and elderly woman is larger than in a young woman.

Stretching the walls of the organ and weakening contractility are facilitated by lifting weights and engaging in strength sports.

Consequences of pathological enlargement of the uterus

A significant and persistent increase in the size of the organ occurs when diseases of an inflammatory or tumor nature occur. If pathologies are not detected in time and treatment is not carried out, then the diseases progress. The consequences of this are usually disruption of the processes of the menstrual cycle, the occurrence of hormonal imbalance and often infertility.

Serious complications can occur during pregnancy. Enlargement of the uterus, caused by pathological processes in its cavity, provokes the onset of an ectopic pregnancy or its termination at an early stage. Stretching of the walls and changes in the condition of the organ’s neck are often the cause of infection entering its cavity and the development of the inflammatory process.

What symptoms may indicate an enlarged uterus?

Women should pay attention to symptoms that may suggest that this organ is enlarged. These include:

Pain and increased intensity of menstruation. Bleeding may also occur between periods. Large blood loss leads to anemia, the signs of which are pale skin, headaches and weakness.
Enlargement of the abdomen, the appearance of nagging pain and a feeling of pressure in the pubic area.
Discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse.
Lower back pain, swelling of the legs and discomfort in their muscles. They arise due to pressure from the enlarged uterus on the nerve endings, blood and lymphatic vessels located in the lower part of the abdominal cavity.
An increased urge to urinate and the appearance of constipation are consequences of the pressure of the uterus on the bladder and intestines.
Uncontrolled weight gain that occurs due to hormonal imbalances that accompany an enlarged uterus.

There may be discomfort in the mammary glands (a feeling of swelling and soreness), which is a consequence of hormonal imbalance.

Pathologies that lead to uterine enlargement

The causes of uterine distension may be diseases or hormonal disorders associated with abnormalities in the functioning of the ovaries or endocrine organs.

Hormonal abnormalities

Disruption of the pituitary gland leads to increased production of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) hormones. This provokes hyperestrogenism, that is, the accumulation of estrogens (hormones produced in the ovaries) in the body. Such a violation leads to pathologies that change the structure of tissues and lead to deviations in the size of the uterus.

Endometrial hyperplasia. Under the influence of estrogens, excessive thickening and hyperplasia of the inner lining of the uterine cavity occurs.

Adenomyosis of the uterus. It is possible for the endometrium to grow into the wall. In this case, an unnatural increase in the organ occurs due to muscle growth.

Endometriosis. The growth of the endometrium leads to the fact that it extends beyond the uterus into the abdominal cavity.

Cysts inside or on the surface of the ovaries. Some of them appear temporarily and are able to resolve on their own (follicular cyst and corpus luteum cyst). There is another type of cyst (endometrioid, dermoid), as well as benign ovarian tumors (cystadenoma, fibroma), which must be removed.

Polycystic and such neoplasms lead to disruption of the functioning of the ovaries, which affects the condition of the endometrium.

Video: Changes in the uterus with endometrial hyperplasia

Inflammatory diseases

Inflammatory processes in the uterine cavity (endometritis), as well as in its cervix and appendages, cause the appearance of edema, disruption of the structure and size, as well as the functioning of organs. The cause of such processes is infection during abortion or therapeutic curettage. Infection with sexually transmitted infections can occur during sexual intercourse.

Tumors

Myoma. Benign tumors of the uterus include fibroids of various types. They can form inside the cavity, outside, and also in the thickness of the uterine wall. Growing to a significant size, they stretch the uterus and put pressure on neighboring organs. Myomas can complicate the onset and course of pregnancy.

Uterine cancer. A malignant tumor appears both in the body of the uterus and in its cervix. Metastases spread to the lymph nodes, ovaries and other organs.

Molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole)

This rare complication of pregnancy occurs due to gene disorders that occur when the egg is fertilized by sperm. In this case, a vesicular mass with overgrown embryonic tissues forms in the placenta. The uterus gradually enlarges, as in normal pregnancy, and signs characteristic of this condition appear (absence of menstruation, toxicosis). It is important to eliminate the neoplasm in time, as its malignant degeneration is possible.

Warning: It is necessary to monitor the progress of pregnancy at the earliest stages and undergo timely examinations recommended by the doctor. This will help detect such dangerous pathologies as hydatidiform mole, ectopic pregnancy, as well as pathologies of fetal development.

How is diagnosis and treatment carried out if the uterus is enlarged?

If a woman has symptoms characteristic of diseases of the uterus, an examination is carried out to determine whether it is enlarged or not.

In this case, methods such as ultrasound and x-ray are used. If an abnormality is detected, a biopsy and histological examination of endometrial samples or tissue from tumors are performed. The presence of inflammatory processes and infections is determined using blood tests and mucous membranes of the reproductive organs. If necessary, a blood test for hormones is prescribed.

The treatment method for detecting pathologies depends on their type and severity. In case of hormonal disorders, replacement therapy is prescribed to reduce the level of estrogen in the blood. Combined oral contraceptives and drugs with a high content of progesterone are used.

If there are tumors in the uterus, hysteroscopy is performed (examination of its cavity using fiber-optic technology, as well as removal of pathologies). To eliminate endometrial hyperplasia, it is curetted.

Removal of ovarian cysts and uterine tumors is performed using laparoscopic surgery. If absolutely necessary, a hysterectomy is performed - partial or complete removal of the uterus and appendages.

Often, when examined by her doctor, a woman may hear that her uterus is enlarged. This can cause some anxiety on the part of the patient, who begins to suffer and be at a loss: why the uterus is enlarged, what it means and what it could threaten her with. Let's try to figure it out.

What does the term “enlarged uterus” mean?

The uterus is a smooth muscle organ of the small pelvis that is pear-shaped. At different periods of life, the size and shape of the uterus change. In nulliparous women, the length of this organ is 7-8 cm, in those who have gone through childbirth - 8-9.5, width - 4-5.5; and it weighs 30-100 g. If the gynecologist said that the uterus is enlarged, this means that its dimensions exceed the normal values.

You can find out that the uterus is enlarged only during an examination by a doctor.

Why is the uterus enlarged and in what cases does this happen?

Enlargement of the uterus can be caused by both normal physiological processes and pathological ones. The uterus can increase in size in women before menopause, as well as during pregnancy and after a woman gives birth.

But the process of uterine enlargement may be associated with other, more serious reasons. An enlarged uterus can be caused by:

. This type of tumor affects about half of the female population of reproductive age. This fibroid tumor can form in the wall, outside or inside the uterus.
An ovarian cyst, which consists of a fluid-filled cavity.
, in which the endometrium grows in the muscles of the uterus.
Uterine cancer usually occurs during menopause. As a rule, a malignant tumor forms in the endometrium and causes an increase in the size of the uterus.
Molar pregnancy. This disease is associated with the development of abnormal fetal tissues, which also leads to an enlarged uterus. Rarely seen.