The uterus is not just an important organ in a woman’s body, it’s also one of the organs that need to be given utmost care. But, due to lack of proper knowledge about the uterus, shyness to talk about sensitive organs, busy lifestyle, unhygienic foods, and many other things can collectively lead to the growth of tumor or cyst in your uterus.
Studies reveal 1 in 6 women under 60 years of age undergoes uterus removal.
Has the purpose of the uterus done with childbirth? Is removing uterus completely, the only treatment option for uterus tumor or cyst? Is it really a good idea to remove one of the most important internal organ in a woman’s body? We will look into answers for all these common questions in this article.
What is the actual measurement or size of the uterus?
The uterus has three-layered structure, its inner layer is termed as endometrium, the middle layer is called as myometrium and the outer layer is named as perimetrium. Normally for a woman who attained puberty, the uterus will measure around 6 cm in length, 5 cm in breadth and 2 cm in thickness. Since the uterus expands during pregnancy and childbirth, it will measure 9 to 10 cm in length after childbirth. Similarly, uterus, which weighs 60g before childbirth will increase to 90g after childbirth.
What are the possible problems with uterus during childbirth?
During the development of a girl fetus, the uterus will be split into two parts and it will later combine into one after the completion of the development process.
For some babies, one part of the uterus will have good growth, while the other part lags behind. In some cases, both the ovaries would have attained good growth, while the uterus development process lags behind. As with other babies, there will be the development of the septum, right in the middle of the uterus. All these problems will not show any bodily symptoms or signs.
What is the reason for the formation of tumor or cyst in the uterus? Can it transform into cancer?
Fibroids, a non-cancerous tumor can form in a woman who reached her puberty. It forms due to excessive activities of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This can be a single big sized tumor or it can be a cluster of small-sized cysts (PCOD).
Increase in body weight, irregular periods, excessive bleeding periods, unbearable stomach pain that occurs during periods, pain in legs could be the symptoms of cyst or tumor in the uterus. When these tumors are big in size, it can, in turn, increase the size of the uterus. Due to this, there will be increased pressure and stress in colon, intestines and urinary bladder, this will lead to frequent urination and constipation.
But fibroids do not require surgically removing the uterus, it can be treated with medications to reduce its size. Only under uncontrollable situations, it is removed using laparoscopy. Most fibroids are non-cancerous. Only when it left unattended for a longer duration, its cells start to multiply uncontrollably and transforms into cancer. This can start to spread to other organs. So it is better to treat it as early as possible.
What is the reason for Uterus Dislocation?
The uterus is surrounded by muscles on all four sides which can expand and contract. During pregnancy, the uterus will start to expand depending up the size of the fetus. For some woman, it takes a really long time to deliver the baby after labor pain. During those times, the muscles surrounding the uterus start to lose its strength. Due to this reason, these muscles could not hold the uterus in its position. This leads to “Uterus Prolapse”.
Giving birth to a number of babies, lifting heavy objects immediately after childbirth, doing works that give more pressure and stress to lower ABS, overweight or obesity can weaken uterus, and lead to uterus dislocation.
Due to uterus dislocation, it can put more weight and stress on colons, intestines and urinary bladder, this can lead to frequent urination, painful urination, and constipation.
How to find out if the uterus is healthy?
Regular period cycles of 28 days itself is the best indication that the uterus and hormone levels are in its normal state. Other than this, the health of uterus can be diagnosed with the help of a scanning process known as “Hysteroscopy”.
Is there an exercise or foods that will help to strengthen uterus?
All women can practice exercises that strengthen uterus under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Women who practice extreme exercises, particularly exercises that give undue pressure to the lower abdomen must be done with extreme care. Otherwise, it can lead to uterus dislocation.
Fish, eggs, lentils, sprouts are rich in protein content, these foods can strengthen the muscles. To overcome the problem of excess bleeding during pregnancy, which results in hemoglobin deficiency, pregnant women can take foods rich in iron content.
Who will need to Surgically remove uterus?
- Women who take medications for excessive bleeding, but it is unable to control blood loss.
- Older women who have uterus dislocation.
- Women who have endometriosis disorder.
- When Fibroid tumors get abnormally large and show signs of cancer.
- Damage caused to Uterus due to previous surgeries.
- A woman who does not want to get pregnant after many successful deliveries. If this is the case, the woman’s age will be taken into consideration before carrying out the surgery.
