3 Common Symptoms Of Uterine Problems And How To Treat Them 

Women have a uterus that’s responsible for normal menstrual cycle and childbirth. Also, it’s in there that a woman bears a child for nine months from a fertilized egg. The uterus plays a major role in the baby’s proper growth and development. However, just like any other organ in the body, it may experience problems too.  

Uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse, uterine tuberculosis, endometriosis and adenomyosis are just some of the common problems of the uterus. But how do you know if you have any of these problems and how are they treated?

Before tackling the common symptoms of uterine problems and how to treat them, take a closer look at how the uterus works.

Anatomy And Function Of The Uterus

The female reproductive system includes the uterus or womb, an inverted pear-shaped hollow muscular organ found between the end part of the large intestine and the urinary bladder. It measures six to eight centimeters long, a wall thickness approximately two to three centimeters, and a width that’s around six centimeters.

The uterine wall consists of three muscle tissue layers. The innermost is the endometrium, a highly vascular layer that contains glands. On the other hand, the myometrium is the middle layer with interlacing smooth muscle fibers, and the perimetrium is the thin serous outermost layer.

The major regions of the uterus include the following:

• Fundus: This part of the uterus has a broad curved upper area which includes the fallopian tubes connected to the organ.
• Body: This main uterine part starts below the fallopian tubes down until the uterine walls. 
• Isthmus: This part of the uterus is the narrow neck region from the body to the cervix.
• Cervix: This part of the uterus is the lowest section that extends to the vagina or birth canal.  

Here are the major functions of the uterus:

• Menstruation: The endometrium changes in thickness, influenced by the menstrual cycle. During ovarian egg release or ovulation, the endometrium is at its thickest. The endometrial wall sheds in which the excess tissue and egg pass away during menstrual bleeding. If problems arise in the endometrium, one can seek medical advice from an endometriosis specialist Melbourne.
• Pregnancy And Childbirth: During fertilization, the uterus nourishes and houses a fertilized ovum or egg, which develops into a fetus until it becomes a mature baby ready for delivery or childbirth. Because the uterus consists of blood vessels, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers, the organ expands during pregnancy and becomes thinner. After childbirth, the uterus goes back to its normal size in six to eight weeks.

Common Symptoms Of Uterine Problems

Any problems arising from the uterus can cause a wide array of symptoms that should prompt medical attention. Here are some indications you should watch out for:

1. Pain 

A common symptom of uterine problems is pain, and it varies based on the location and cause. Here are the common causes of pain in the uterus:

• Pain During Menstrual Periods 

Endometriosis usually causes pain during menstruation in which the inside tissue grows outside. Normally, the endometrium should shed within the inner lining of the uterus. 

However, when an overgrowth of endometrial tissue occurs outside the uterus, the blood and excess tissue become trapped during shedding or menstrual bleeding, causing severe pain. The surrounding tissue becomes irritated and develops scar tissue, as well as abnormal bands of fibrous tissue or adhesions, causing pelvic organs and tissues to stick together that adds to the pain.

• Pain During Sexual Intercourse

Intercourse pain (dyspareunia) can cause sexual relationship problems among couples, causing physical pain and discomfort. Sex has psychological benefits, but uterine problems may cause negative emotional effects. 

Inadequate lubrication causes normal pain sensation during sexual intercourse, which resolves by itself when the woman becomes more relaxed, when the couple engages in increased foreplay, or when sufficient vaginal lubricant is applied. In some cases, dyspareunia can be caused by uterine problems. 

Endometriosis can cause pain during sexual intercourse, so as cervical problems and uterine fibroids. Problems with the cervix cause pain when the penis reaches the cervix deep or at its maximum penetration. Uterine fibroids can also lead to deep intercourse pain.

• Pelvic Pain 

Because the pelvis houses the uterus, uterine problems may also cause pelvic pain, along with pain in the lower abdomen and the rectal or anal area. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause pelvic pain, which is an infection of the reproductive organs. Sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea or chlamydia often cause PID.

Uterine fibroids or myomas as well as cancer of the uterus can also cause pelvic pain. Another factor is premature labor, in which labor happens before the 37th week or before nine months of pregnancy. The pain is felt in the lower abdomen, and it’s described as dull pressure or sharp, timed contractions.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs shortly after the conception of a fertilized egg that implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, causing internal bleeding, fallopian tube rupture, and sharp, intense pain.

2. Heavy Or Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding

One common concern of women is heavy menstrual bleeding. Too much blood loss accompanied by cramps can affect the performance of daily activities. If you have heavy or prolonged menstruation or menorrhagia, this can be a manifestation of uterine problems such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, polyp, or hormonal imbalance. 

Adenomyosis is a condition that occurs when glands in the endometrium extend in the uterine muscle, causing prolonged menstrual periods. A hormonal imbalance occurs when the endometrial tissue develops in excess, which eventually sheds through heavy menstrual bleeding. Polyps refer to small, benign growths on the uterus lining. Uterine fibroids, on the other hand, are noncancerous or benign tumors that usually appear during childbearing years, causing heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Menorrhagia signs and symptoms may include the following:

• Bleeding over a week 
• Using more than one tampon or sanitary pad every hour (experienced in several consecutive hours) because of heavy and prolonged menstrual flow.
• The need to use double sanitary protection for better menstrual flow control
• Large blood clots (more than a quarter size)
• The need to wake up during the night to change sanitary pads
• Experiencing symptoms of anemia (fatigue, tiredness, or shortness of breath)
• Failure to complete tasks or daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow

You should see a doctor immediately if you have heavy vaginal bleeding or if you soak one sanitary pad an hour. It also holds the same with irregular vaginal bleeding or bleeding between periods and post-menopausal vaginal bleeding.

3. Urinary Problems 

A common symptom of uterine fibroids or benign uterine growth is frequent urination. This problem can be accompanied by difficulty in emptying the urinary bladder and pain. If fibroids grow larger or tumors are numerous, the uterus expands, compressing the bladder. The capacity of the bladder to hold enough urine reduces, resulting in frequent urination.

Endometriosis also causes urinary problems, causing severe discomfort. Superficial endometriosis forms abnormal growths at the surface of the urinary bladder while deep endometriosis develops growths inside the bladder lining.

Bladder endometriosis affects 1-2% of women, in which the bladder is the most likely affected organ. The signs and symptoms of this rare type of endometriosis may include:

• Urgent need to urinate
• Frequent urination
• Fullness of the bladder 
• Painful urination 
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Pelvic pain
• One-sided lower back pain 

Treating Common Symptoms Of Uterine Problems

Don’t ignore the common symptoms of uterine problems because they may worsen and cause major complications. Here are some of the treatments you can do:

1. Pain

Endometriosis is a lifelong medical condition without cure unless the uterus is removed (hysterectomy). The pain is chronic so proper pain management is important. Your doctor can prescribe medications to control severe pain. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen are suitable for manageable pain caused by endometriosis.

Taking hormone birth control for three or more months can help stop heavy menstrual bleeding. The most common endometriosis treatment includes the following:

• Birth Control Pills, Vaginal Rings, And Patches: These contraceptives contain estrogen and progestin.
• Progestin-only Contraceptives: Some examples include birth control pills, shots, and intrauterine devices (IUD), which help relieve pain.
• Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy can be effective in treating the symptoms of endometriosis. However, it may cause side effects like acne, weight gain, body hair, depression, and irregular bleeding.
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Analogues: This medication is recommended for uncontrolled, severe pain, which stops the ovaries from producing estrogen. In this way, the tissue or overgrowth will shrink, causing temporary menopause.

Other causes of pain may require surgical intervention such as removing the affected area, salpingostomy or salpingectomy, and laparoscopic surgery to treat ectopic pregnancy.

2. Heavy Or Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding

Specific treatment for heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding depends on your medical history, overall health, cause of the condition, severity, and the patient’s tolerance to medications, therapies, or procedures. In addition, treatment for menorrhagia also depends on the patient’s future childbearing plans, lifestyle effects, and personal preferences. 

The different treatment options of menorrhagia include the following: 

• Medications

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help alleviate menstrual cramps and blood loss. Tranexamic acid reduces menstrual blood loss taken during bleeding periods. On the other hand, oral contraceptives regulate menstrual cycles, reducing episodes of prolonged and excessive menstrual bleeding.

Progesterone aids in correcting hormonal imbalance and reducing menorrhagia. A hormonal IUD releases progestin such as levonorgestrel, thinning the uterine lining, relieving cramps, and decreasing menstrual blood flow. Your doctor may prescribe an iron supplement if you have signs and symptoms of anemia to balance your blood’s iron levels. 

• Procedures

Surgical intervention is necessary if medical therapy fails to treat menorrhagia. The doctor opens the cervix and suctions or scrapes tissue from the uterine lining in dilation and curettage to treat acute and active bleeding.

Uterine artery embolization is another procedure to treat menorrhagia caused by uterine fibroids. This procedure shrinks any fibroids, blocking the arteries to cut off their blood supply. The surgeon uses a catheter via the large femoral artery (located in the thigh) during uterine artery embolization.

Endometrial ablation involves destroying the lining of the uterus or endometrium using a laser and radiofrequency to destroy the endometrial tissue. Focused ultrasound surgery, on the other hand, uses ultrasound waves to treat bleeding by shrinking and destroying the uterine fibroid tissue without requiring incisions. 

Myomectomy is another surgical procedure for menorrhagia that removes uterine fibroids in an open abdominal surgery through the cervix and vagina or via several small incisions or laparoscope surgery. As mentioned, hysterectomy or the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix can help treat uterine problems. This procedure stops the menstrual period and causes sterility, which is performed under anesthesia. Both myomectomy and hysterectomy require hospital stay while other procedures to treat menorrhagia are on an outpatient basis.

3. Urinary Problems

With medication or surgical procedures used to treat uterine problems as discussed above, the symptoms of urinary problems will resolve automatically. However, if an existing infection occurs, then your doctor will need to provide another treatment plan for urinary tract infection such as prescribing antibiotics.

Importance Of Seeking Medical Attention 

Seeking medical attention is necessary, so your condition would be properly diagnosed. Consult an obstetrician or a gynecologist in treating uterine problems. Preferably, choose a professional with many years of experience in handling patients. Your doctor will conduct a complete physical examination, particularly in the vaginal and pelvic area, and obtain your medical history. Several diagnostic procedures will be performed to rule out the root cause of your signs and symptoms.

A blood test helps detect the early stages of endometriosis. On the other hand, laparoscopy is a highly reliable method to diagnose endometriosis and other uterine problems. This minor surgical procedure allows the doctor to view the uterus and collect tissue samples for laboratory testing.

Conclusion

The uterus is an important organ of the female reproductive system, particularly in pregnancy and childbirth. It’s crucial to talk to your doctor if you experience any of the common symptoms of uterine problems to plan and implement the best medical intervention for you. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you seek treatment for your condition.