Enlarged Uterus Symptoms

One of the most important phases, menopause, is not only a time of change, but also the period in the life of a woman which carries with it a threat of impending disorders in her reproductive system, especially during or at the end of the childbearing period and after passing the age of puberty. An enlarged uterus is something that women tend to overlook justifying the increased size of the abdomen as being obesity. It is the beginning of a serious health condition that can be stopped with initial attention paid towards the symptoms and causes of an enlarged uterus.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Uterus

There are a few medical conditions that can contribute toward the enlarged uterus symptoms. They can vary in a huge spectrum of symptoms displayed by an enlarged uterus. Abdominal pain, premenstrual syndrome, severe menstrual cramps, back pain, nausea, depression, painful menstruation, and sudden weight gain to name a few are some mild symptoms of an enlarged uterus. The following are some not-to-be-overlooked enlarged uterus symptoms, so take heed.

Abnormal Menstruation
Menorrhagia, also known as profuse or prolonged menstrual bleeding is one of the enlarged uterus symptoms that involves passing of blood clots, having a heavy menstrual flow, irregular menstruation, and noticing blood being discharged between the interval of two periods, all these are indicative of symptoms of an enlarged uterus and fibroids. It also leads to severe and sudden anemia and lack of energy due to excessive blood loss.

Sudden Weight Gain
Sudden weight gain without any particular reason is one of the prime symptoms. Sudden increase in the waistline and size of the abdominal region is not a natural phenomenon, hence, that should not be overlooked. Sudden weight gain that leads to obesity can also cause irregularity in menstruation and infertility.

Types of Pain
A sudden eruption of pain in the organs that are closely associated with the reproductive system is felt. Most often, menstrual cramps associated leg pain, severe pelvic pain, back pain, lower back pain, and pain in the flank can be observed along with several other sorts like a severe headache, migraine, dyspareunia or pain during intercourse, stomach ache, abdominal pain, flatulence, excessive bloating, and diarrhea. All these signs being associated with enlarged uterus symptoms.

Reproductive Complications
When an enlargement of the uterus is observed in childbearing age, it accompanies several other health complications like infertility, premature labor and premature delivery, stillbirths, recurrent miscarriage and many other complications regarding labor and pregnancy. Abdominal distortion that also looks like pregnancy is one of the most visible of all signs that something is wrong with the uterus.

What Causes This Condition

There are some phases of the menstrual cycle that can create some complications in the life of a woman and lead to an enlarged uterus. These abnormal developments of the uterus and the other reproductive organs can cause an enlargement of a woman's uterus. Let's take a quick look at the causes of an enlarged uterus.

Uterine Fibroids
It is observed that almost 50% of women are experiencing uterine fibroids. Fibroids are a benign growth of several cells and tissues of the uterus. They most commonly occur during the accouchement age of a woman. They can vary from the size of a pea to a watermelon where the symptoms of an enlarged uterus may differ accordingly too.

Ovarian Cysts
This is also one of the most common reasons behind an enlarged uterus. Ovarian cysts are cell sacks that are filled with fluid lying in the surface or inside the ovaries. If timely medical attention is not provided, then there are chances of these ovarian cysts getting ruptured and causing serious health complications. There are various types of ovarian cysts which are needed to be evaluated as they create the risk of ovarian cancer.

Endometrium Cancer
Cancer of the endometrium, which is the mucous membrane present in the uterus lining can also cause an enlarged uterus. Women at the age of menopause, suffering from obesity, colorectal cancer, undergoing hormone replacement therapy, and/or breast cancer treatment are prone to suffer with an enlarged uterus. Treatment of this cause includes surgical removal of the uterus.

Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis simply means the presence of the endometrium in a place other than its respective place. This condition is observed in women in the age group of 30 and above. Adenomyosis is a benign growth that may also be painful at times. It causes irregular menstruation, clotting during menstruation, and menstrual cramps.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Accurate diagnosis will lead to the exact course of treatment. There are one or more tests that can be conducted to determine the cause of an enlarged uterus. They may include a laparoscopy, a physical examination of the pelvic region by the health care provider, an endometrial biopsy, X-rays, and several blood tests like a complete blood count (CBC).

Treatment of an enlarged uterus depends on the diagnostic reports. There are hormonal therapies, medication, surgical examinations, herbal medicines, alternative treatments, and a total or partial hysterectomy that can be performed by the health care provider to provide relief from the enlarged uterus symptoms. It is hence, very important not to overlook any symptoms of an enlarged uterus, and bring in proper medical intervention.

Timely diagnosis can alleviate the problem of an enlarged uterus and the respective woman can lead a happy and cheerful life. As a woman, you need to take all precautions possible to keep your reproductive system healthy. The diseases that can affect you can be very painful in nature, hence, if you're affected by something like an enlarged uterus, keep yourself thoroughly informed so that you're aware of the condition affecting you, thus you will be able to make some conscious changes in your life to get it remedied. Take care!