Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUterus StructureUterine ConditionsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uterus Structure
Uterine Conditions
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Several health conditions can affect theuterusor womb. Some are serious, while others need minimal treatment. Many involve similar symptoms such as pelvic pain or irregular bleeding. It’s important to see a healthcare provider so you can get the right diagnosis and treatment.
This article explores some of the most common uterine health conditions. It also takes a look at how they are diagnosed and treated.
The uterus is a pear-shaped structure in the pelvis. It sits behind the bladder and in front of the rectum. The uterus grows during pregnancy. Afterward, it shrinks back almost to its original size within weeks.
On each side of the uterus are thefallopian tubesandovaries. The uterus,vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes make up the female reproductive system. Because these organs are so close to each other, pain in the pelvis could be related to the uterus or something else entirely.
Uterus Anatomy and Function
What Is Retroverted Uterus?
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrheais menstrual pain. It can occur before and/or during your period. Period pain is not necessarily a sign of a medical condition on its own. It often improves with pain medication or hormone therapy.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding(previously called menorrhagia) is excessive menstrual bleeding and can also refer to bleeding that lasts too long. It can occur without any known cause, or it can be a symptom of:
Heavy bleeding can causeiron deficiency anemia, a low red blood cell count. If your red blood cell count is low, you may need treatment to control the bleeding as well as the anemia.
RecapPain and heavy bleeding may be related to a uterine problem. Pain on its own isn’t always a sign of a disorder. Heavy bleeding may be from hormone changes, growths, medications, or even cancer.
Recap
Pain and heavy bleeding may be related to a uterine problem. Pain on its own isn’t always a sign of a disorder. Heavy bleeding may be from hormone changes, growths, medications, or even cancer.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Uterine Prolapse
Uterine prolapsemeans the muscles and ligaments that hold the uterus in place have weakened. The uterus drops. Many people have mild to moderate uterine prolapse when they get older.
The most common symptoms are:
Congenital Uterine Malformation
These differences can include:
RecapSome conditions change the shape or orientation of the uterus itself. If your uterus sits too low in your abdomen, tilts back, or has an unusual shape, it can cause pain, urinary leaks, or pregnancy problems. For some people, these differences don’t cause any symptoms at all.
Some conditions change the shape or orientation of the uterus itself. If your uterus sits too low in your abdomen, tilts back, or has an unusual shape, it can cause pain, urinary leaks, or pregnancy problems. For some people, these differences don’t cause any symptoms at all.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Sometimes, bacteria or microbes enter thecervixand spread upward. The infection can affect one or more of the pelvic organs, including the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes. This is calledpelvic inflammatory disease(PID).
Symptoms can include:
Polyps
Uterine polypsare common. These small, soft growths in the uterus may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, spotting between periods, and bleeding after sex.
Fibroids
Symptoms include:
Although fibroids are sometimes called tumors, they are not cancer. They do not invade tissue or travel to other parts of the body the way cancer does.
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasiaoccurs when too many cells grow in the lining of the uterus. The uterus becomes very thick as a result. The condition can cause abnormal bleeding.
It is not cancer, but in some cases, it can lead to cancer of the uterus. Symptoms include:
Endometriosis
Withendometriosis, the same kind of tissue that lines your uterus grows in other parts of the body. Most of the time, it grows in the abdomen or ovaries. This can cause scar tissue to build up around the affected organs. People who have endometriosis often have endometrial hyperplasia, but not always.
The cause of endometriosis is unclear, but there arevarious theories.
Endometritis vs. Endometriosis
Uterine Scars (Asherman’s Syndrome)
Sometimes, scars form after uterine surgery, radiation, or injury. These scars are also called adhesions or Asherman’s syndrome. It may lead to not having periods or light bleeding during your periods. Severe cases can cause pain or infections.
Cancer
Uterine cancer causes abnormal vaginal bleeding. The most common type isendometrial cancer. It requires aggressive treatment if it has spread beyond the uterus.
RecapAbnormal cells can sometimes grow in or on the uterus. Polyps, fibroids, scar tissue, cancer, microbes, and extra uterine tissue can cause bleeding, pain, and other symptoms.
Abnormal cells can sometimes grow in or on the uterus. Polyps, fibroids, scar tissue, cancer, microbes, and extra uterine tissue can cause bleeding, pain, and other symptoms.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Symptoms of diseases of the uterus include:
In each phase of your menstrual cycle, the uterus changes. Symptoms may get better or worse throughout the month.
Your medical history and symptoms can help your healthcare provider decide which tests you need. Some of the most common tests are:
RecapIf you’re having pain, bleeding, urinary leaks, or pregnancy problems, a pelvic exam and Pap test may be enough to pinpoint the problem. If not, you may need urine, blood, imaging scans, or “scope” tests to confirm a diagnosis.
If you’re having pain, bleeding, urinary leaks, or pregnancy problems, a pelvic exam and Pap test may be enough to pinpoint the problem. If not, you may need urine, blood, imaging scans, or “scope” tests to confirm a diagnosis.
The right treatment depends on what’s causing your symptoms. 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
Most of the time, symptoms include pain, unusual bleeding, and urinary leaks. Physical exams, lab tests, and imaging scans can shed light on the problem. Medication, hormones, embolization, and surgery are all options for treating different conditions. You and your healthcare provider can work together to create a treatment plan.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou should seek immediate medical help for anything that could lead to sudden blood loss. That includes ectopic pregnancies, PID with abscesses orfluid-filled pockets, fibroid complications, and uterine bleeding.Several uterine conditions can cause pain during sex. These conditions include fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy.
You should seek immediate medical help for anything that could lead to sudden blood loss. That includes ectopic pregnancies, PID with abscesses orfluid-filled pockets, fibroid complications, and uterine bleeding.
Several uterine conditions can cause pain during sex. These conditions include fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy.
Pelvic Pain in Women and Men
30 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UT Southwestern Medical Center.What’s going on with my uterus? 3 conditions related to pelvic pain and bleeding.Gossman W, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. In: StatPearls.Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Ashtary-Larky D, et al.An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2019;23(1): 51–57. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180083Cleveland Clinic.Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).Chung S, Kim WB.Various approaches and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse in women.J Menopausal Med. 2018;24(3):155-. doi:10.6118/jmm.2018.24.3.155Saravelos SH, Cocksedge KA, Li T.The pattern of pregnancy loss in women with congenital uterine anomalies and recurrent miscarriage.Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2010;20(3):416-422. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.021Colombia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine anomaly.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Cleveland Clinic.Uterine polyps.UCLA Health.What are fibroids?Cleveland Clinic.Atypical endometrial hyperplasia.NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of endometriosis?Cleveland Clinic.Asherman’s syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer symptoms.Speer LM, Mushkbar S, Erbele T.Chronic pelvic pain in women.American family physician. 2016;93(5):380-7.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Understanding fertility.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common reproductive health concerns for women.Pinkerton JV, Guico-Pabia CJ, Taylor HS.Menstrual cycle-related exacerbation of disease.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;202(3):221-231. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.061Planned Parenthood.What is a pelvic exam?Planned Parenthood.Pap smear test.MedlinePlus.Urinalysis.MedlinePlus.Hormone levels.Wong L, White N, Ramkrishna J, Júnior EA, Meagher S, Costa FDS.Three-dimensional imaging of the uterus: The value of the coronal plane.WJR. 2015;7(12):484-. doi:10.4329/wjr.v7.i12.484Acholonu UC, Silberzweig J, Stein DE, Keltz M.Hysterosalpingography versus sonohysterography for intrauterine abnormalities.JSLS. 2011;15(4):471-474. doi:10.4293/108680811X13176785203923NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Heavy bleeding, fibroids, and polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal and uterine prolapse: Management and treatment.Penn Medicine.Mullerian anomalies.Iraha Y, Okada M, Iraha R, et al.CT and MR imaging of gynecologic emergencies.RadioGraphics. 2017;37(5):1569-1586. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160170Cleveland Clinic.Dyspareunia (painful intercourse).Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Hysteroscopy.
30 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UT Southwestern Medical Center.What’s going on with my uterus? 3 conditions related to pelvic pain and bleeding.Gossman W, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. In: StatPearls.Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Ashtary-Larky D, et al.An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2019;23(1): 51–57. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180083Cleveland Clinic.Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).Chung S, Kim WB.Various approaches and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse in women.J Menopausal Med. 2018;24(3):155-. doi:10.6118/jmm.2018.24.3.155Saravelos SH, Cocksedge KA, Li T.The pattern of pregnancy loss in women with congenital uterine anomalies and recurrent miscarriage.Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2010;20(3):416-422. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.021Colombia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine anomaly.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Cleveland Clinic.Uterine polyps.UCLA Health.What are fibroids?Cleveland Clinic.Atypical endometrial hyperplasia.NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of endometriosis?Cleveland Clinic.Asherman’s syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer symptoms.Speer LM, Mushkbar S, Erbele T.Chronic pelvic pain in women.American family physician. 2016;93(5):380-7.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Understanding fertility.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common reproductive health concerns for women.Pinkerton JV, Guico-Pabia CJ, Taylor HS.Menstrual cycle-related exacerbation of disease.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;202(3):221-231. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.061Planned Parenthood.What is a pelvic exam?Planned Parenthood.Pap smear test.MedlinePlus.Urinalysis.MedlinePlus.Hormone levels.Wong L, White N, Ramkrishna J, Júnior EA, Meagher S, Costa FDS.Three-dimensional imaging of the uterus: The value of the coronal plane.WJR. 2015;7(12):484-. doi:10.4329/wjr.v7.i12.484Acholonu UC, Silberzweig J, Stein DE, Keltz M.Hysterosalpingography versus sonohysterography for intrauterine abnormalities.JSLS. 2011;15(4):471-474. doi:10.4293/108680811X13176785203923NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Heavy bleeding, fibroids, and polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal and uterine prolapse: Management and treatment.Penn Medicine.Mullerian anomalies.Iraha Y, Okada M, Iraha R, et al.CT and MR imaging of gynecologic emergencies.RadioGraphics. 2017;37(5):1569-1586. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160170Cleveland Clinic.Dyspareunia (painful intercourse).Additional ReadingCleveland Clinic.Hysteroscopy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UT Southwestern Medical Center.What’s going on with my uterus? 3 conditions related to pelvic pain and bleeding.Gossman W, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. In: StatPearls.Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Ashtary-Larky D, et al.An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2019;23(1): 51–57. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180083Cleveland Clinic.Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).Chung S, Kim WB.Various approaches and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse in women.J Menopausal Med. 2018;24(3):155-. doi:10.6118/jmm.2018.24.3.155Saravelos SH, Cocksedge KA, Li T.The pattern of pregnancy loss in women with congenital uterine anomalies and recurrent miscarriage.Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2010;20(3):416-422. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.021Colombia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine anomaly.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Cleveland Clinic.Uterine polyps.UCLA Health.What are fibroids?Cleveland Clinic.Atypical endometrial hyperplasia.NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of endometriosis?Cleveland Clinic.Asherman’s syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer symptoms.Speer LM, Mushkbar S, Erbele T.Chronic pelvic pain in women.American family physician. 2016;93(5):380-7.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Understanding fertility.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common reproductive health concerns for women.Pinkerton JV, Guico-Pabia CJ, Taylor HS.Menstrual cycle-related exacerbation of disease.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;202(3):221-231. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.061Planned Parenthood.What is a pelvic exam?Planned Parenthood.Pap smear test.MedlinePlus.Urinalysis.MedlinePlus.Hormone levels.Wong L, White N, Ramkrishna J, Júnior EA, Meagher S, Costa FDS.Three-dimensional imaging of the uterus: The value of the coronal plane.WJR. 2015;7(12):484-. doi:10.4329/wjr.v7.i12.484Acholonu UC, Silberzweig J, Stein DE, Keltz M.Hysterosalpingography versus sonohysterography for intrauterine abnormalities.JSLS. 2011;15(4):471-474. doi:10.4293/108680811X13176785203923NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Heavy bleeding, fibroids, and polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal and uterine prolapse: Management and treatment.Penn Medicine.Mullerian anomalies.Iraha Y, Okada M, Iraha R, et al.CT and MR imaging of gynecologic emergencies.RadioGraphics. 2017;37(5):1569-1586. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160170Cleveland Clinic.Dyspareunia (painful intercourse).
UT Southwestern Medical Center.What’s going on with my uterus? 3 conditions related to pelvic pain and bleeding.
Gossman W, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. In: StatPearls.
Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Ashtary-Larky D, et al.An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.JBRA Assist Reprod. 2019;23(1): 51–57. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180083
Cleveland Clinic.Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).
Chung S, Kim WB.Various approaches and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse in women.J Menopausal Med. 2018;24(3):155-. doi:10.6118/jmm.2018.24.3.155
Saravelos SH, Cocksedge KA, Li T.The pattern of pregnancy loss in women with congenital uterine anomalies and recurrent miscarriage.Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2010;20(3):416-422. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.021
Colombia University Irving Medical Center.Uterine anomaly.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Cleveland Clinic.Uterine polyps.
UCLA Health.What are fibroids?
Cleveland Clinic.Atypical endometrial hyperplasia.
NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Cleveland Clinic.Asherman’s syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Uterine cancer symptoms.
Speer LM, Mushkbar S, Erbele T.Chronic pelvic pain in women.American family physician. 2016;93(5):380-7.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Understanding fertility.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common reproductive health concerns for women.
Pinkerton JV, Guico-Pabia CJ, Taylor HS.Menstrual cycle-related exacerbation of disease.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;202(3):221-231. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.061
Planned Parenthood.What is a pelvic exam?
Planned Parenthood.Pap smear test.
MedlinePlus.Urinalysis.
MedlinePlus.Hormone levels.
Wong L, White N, Ramkrishna J, Júnior EA, Meagher S, Costa FDS.Three-dimensional imaging of the uterus: The value of the coronal plane.WJR. 2015;7(12):484-. doi:10.4329/wjr.v7.i12.484
Acholonu UC, Silberzweig J, Stein DE, Keltz M.Hysterosalpingography versus sonohysterography for intrauterine abnormalities.JSLS. 2011;15(4):471-474. doi:10.4293/108680811X13176785203923
NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?
Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Heavy bleeding, fibroids, and polyps.
Cleveland Clinic.Vaginal and uterine prolapse: Management and treatment.
Penn Medicine.Mullerian anomalies.
Iraha Y, Okada M, Iraha R, et al.CT and MR imaging of gynecologic emergencies.RadioGraphics. 2017;37(5):1569-1586. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160170
Cleveland Clinic.Dyspareunia (painful intercourse).
Cleveland Clinic.Hysteroscopy.
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