Several gynecologic conditions cause uterus problems.
No matter what symptoms you experience, seeing your healthcare provider is essential.
Getting the correct diagnosis and treatment helps prevent future complications.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Dysmenorrhea (Period Pain)
Dysmenorrheais pain that occurs before and/or during your period.
Prostaglandins support menstruation by tightening uterine muscles and blood vessels.
However, the high prostaglandin levels around the start of your period cause cramps.
Secondary dysmenorrhea:Menstrual pain is a symptom of several uterus problems, including endometriosis, fibroids, andadenomyosis.
This bang out of pain during your period is secondary dysmenorrhea.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding(menorrhagia) is excessive or prolonged bleeding during your periods.
However, they can grow on the bladder and other structures in your abdomen.
The patches respond to the same hormones that cause your monthly menstrual cycles.
As a result, they thicken and shed in sync with your periods.
The bleeding in your abdomen causes inflammation and scarring of the nearby tissues.
Over time, the scars can stick together, forming adhesions that make organs and tissues stick together.
Thesymptomsof endometriosis include:
The cause of endometriosis remains unknown.
However, several issues likely contribute to the problem, including genetics and altered immune function.
Tissues can flow out of the uterus through the fallopian tube during menstruation.
If the immune system fails to clear them away, they may grow into endometriosis.
Uterine Prolapse
Uterine prolapseoccurs when the pelvic floor muscles supporting the uterus weaken.
As a result, the uterus falls out of its usual position.
The infection can affect the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroidsare growths in the muscular layer of the uterus.
They typically grow in the muscle but can hang into the uterine cavity.
Uterine fibroids are not cancerous but they can cause problems by distorting the shape of the uterus.
Uterine Polyps
Uterine polypsare small, soft growths in the uterine lining.
Polyps are common and may not cause symptoms.
it’s possible for you to have one or several polyps of varying sizes.
They’re usually not cancerous, but they can turn into cancerous growths.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis causes an enlarged uterus.
The pain may come from issues in your urinary tract or digestive system.
Pulled or weakened muscles and ligaments can also cause chronic pelvic pain.
Chronic pelvic pain may also be accompanied by any of the symptoms due to uterus conditions.
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasiaoccurs when too many cells grow in the lining of the uterus.
The uterus becomes very thick as a result.
It is not cancer, but in some cases, it can lead to cancer of the uterus.
Symptoms include:
Endometrial hyperplasia is usually brought on by too much estrogen together with decreased progesterone.
Cancer
Endometrial cancer develops in the uterine lining.
If cancer begins in the uterine muscle, it’s called sarcoma.
Symptoms of endometrial cancer include:
Sarcoma may also cause a lump inside the vagina.
These changes don’t cause symptoms in infants.
As a result, they go unnoticed until later in life.
Your healthcare provider may spot the condition during a routine pelvic exam or during an ultrasound.
However, the problem is most often discovered when you have difficulty getting pregnant or have a miscarriage.
Some of the most common treatments include:
In some cases, treatments are combined.
That’s especially true in severe cases or those where a single treatment didn’t work well.
Summary
The uterus can be affected by many different conditions ranging from growths and infections to prolapse.
Though each uterus problem has distinct symptoms, many share a few common symptoms.
Medications, hormones, and surgery are treatment options.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Dysmenorrhea (painful periods).
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
The AmericanCollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometriosis.
NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
University of Rochester Medical Center.Uterine prolapse.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Pelvic inflammatory disease.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.
UCLA Health.What are fibroids?
Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine polyps.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Adenomyosis.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Chronic pelvic pain.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial hyperplasia.
National Cancer Institute.Endometrial cancer.
Colombia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine anomaly.
Planned Parenthood.What is a pelvic exam?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?
Yale Medicine.Uterine fibroid embolization.
