Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesComplicationsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Enlarged uterus symptoms can include constipation, abdominal bloating, and frequent urination, although not all people experience symptoms. The uterus is typically about fist-sized but an underlying health condition, including fibroids, is typically the cause of enlargement and can lead to additional symptoms of vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
Understanding the symptoms can help you to identify a potential cause.Regular pelvic examsare the best way to identify any uterine health issues so you can get the right treatment as early as possible.
Female uterus.
Other, more serious symptoms (such as vaginal bleeding or fertility challenges) may occur due to underlying medical issues that cause an enlarged uterus.For example, vaginal bleeding occurs in more than 90% of all people diagnosed with uterine cancer.
These different causes often have similar symptoms that may include:
Enlarged uterus symptoms have several different causes. In some cases, more than one condition occurs at the same time. A 2020 study reports that 47% of people diagnosed with adenomyosis were also diagnosed with uterine fibroids, for example. Both conditions can cause an enlarged uterus.
Causes include:
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Certain enlarged uterus symptoms are specific to PCOS, in addition to pelvic pain and discomfort from bloating. These include:
An enlarged uterus due to cancer can lead to serious health complications. Additionally, the underlying cause of enlarged uterus symptoms can lead to other health issues and affect your quality of life.
These conditions can cause:
When to See Your Healthcare ProviderSee your gynecologist or women’s health provider if you experience:Heavy bleedingPressure on your bladder or bowelsPain in your pelvic areaPain during sexIf you’ve gone through menopause, see a doctor if you have vaginal bleeding.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
See your gynecologist or women’s health provider if you experience:Heavy bleedingPressure on your bladder or bowelsPain in your pelvic areaPain during sexIf you’ve gone through menopause, see a doctor if you have vaginal bleeding.
See your gynecologist or women’s health provider if you experience:
If you’ve gone through menopause, see a doctor if you have vaginal bleeding.
An enlarged uterus can be detected during a pelvic exam. If your uterus is enlarged, your gynecologist may order additional testing to determine the cause. This can include:
Some conditions that lead to enlarged uterus symptoms can be challenging to diagnose. Endometriosis, for example, can take between four and 11 years for a diagnosis to be confirmed.Talk with your healthcare provider about tests you may need for an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for an enlarged uterus depends on the cause. In some cases, treatment focuses on managing symptoms and may result in the uterus returning to its normal size. Here is a closer look at different treatment options for the causes and symptoms of an enlarged uterus:
Other complications, including infertility, also may require comprehensive treatment.
Summary
Enlarged uterus symptoms can include general discomfort and constipation, or the need to pee frequently. However, the underlying problems that make your uterus increase in size can lead to other symptoms.
Fibroids and adenomyosis are the most common causes. Signs of these conditions are heavy bleeding, which can lead to anemia, cramping, and painful intercourse. Other conditions that cause your uterus to enlarge are PCOS and cancer. These are more serious issues that require treatment to protect fertility and overall health.
Having regular pelvic exams is the best way to identify any uterine issues early so you can get the treatment you need.
24 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.Perutelli A, Domenici L, Garibaldi S, Albanesi G, Baroni C, Salvati L,et al.Efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgery in challenging hysterectomies - a single institutional experience.Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Feb;26(4):1235-1240. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202202_28115Vannuccini S, Petraglia F.Recent advances in understanding and managing adenomyosis.F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-283. doi:10.12688/f1000research.17242.1USA Fibroid Centers.Hormones and fibroids: The role of progesterone and estrogen.Zhai J, Vannuccini S, Petraglia F, Giudice LC.Adenomyosis: Mechanisms and pathogenesis.Semin Reprod Med. 2020 May;38(2-03):129-143. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716687Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Care.Uterine (endometrial) cancer signs & symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.Uterine fibroids.Nelsen LM, Lenderking WR, Pokrzywinski R, Balantac Z, Black L, Pokras S, et al.Experience of symptoms and disease impact in patients with adenomyosis.Patient. 2018;11(3):319–328. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0284-2American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial cancer.Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center.Uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.Pakish JB, Lu KH, Sun CC, et al.Endometrial cancer associated symptoms: a case-control study.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(11):1187–92. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5657American Cancer Society.Key statistics for endometrial cancer.Ignatov A, Ortmann O.Endocrine risk factors of endometrial cancer: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, oral contraceptives, infertility, Tamoxifen.Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(7):1766. doi:10.3390/cancers12071766Johns Hopkins Medicine.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Agarwal M, Singh S Sr, Sinha S, Sinha U.Overcoming obstacles during caesarean section with a fibroid in the uterus, from diagnosis to decision: A case series.Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39642. doi:10.7759/cureus.39642Freytag D, Günther V, Maass N, Alkatout I.Uterine fibroids and infertility.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(8):1455. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11081455National Partnership for Women and Families.Your body throughout pregnancy.Mansour D, Hofmann A, Gemzell-Danielsson K.A review of clinical guidelines on the management of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.Adv Ther. 2021 Jan;38(1):201-225. doi:10.1007/s12325-020-01564-yPeinado-Molina RA, Hernández-Martínez A, Martínez-Vázquez S, Rodríguez-Almagro J, Martínez-Galiano JM.Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevalence and associated factors.BMC Public Health. 2023 Oct 14;23(1):2005. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16901-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Agarwal SK, Chapron C, Giudice LC, Laufer MR, Leyland N, Missmer SA,et al.Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Apr;220(4):354.e1-354.e12. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.12.039American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.MedlinePlus.Anemia.
24 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.Perutelli A, Domenici L, Garibaldi S, Albanesi G, Baroni C, Salvati L,et al.Efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgery in challenging hysterectomies - a single institutional experience.Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Feb;26(4):1235-1240. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202202_28115Vannuccini S, Petraglia F.Recent advances in understanding and managing adenomyosis.F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-283. doi:10.12688/f1000research.17242.1USA Fibroid Centers.Hormones and fibroids: The role of progesterone and estrogen.Zhai J, Vannuccini S, Petraglia F, Giudice LC.Adenomyosis: Mechanisms and pathogenesis.Semin Reprod Med. 2020 May;38(2-03):129-143. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716687Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Care.Uterine (endometrial) cancer signs & symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.Uterine fibroids.Nelsen LM, Lenderking WR, Pokrzywinski R, Balantac Z, Black L, Pokras S, et al.Experience of symptoms and disease impact in patients with adenomyosis.Patient. 2018;11(3):319–328. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0284-2American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial cancer.Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center.Uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.Pakish JB, Lu KH, Sun CC, et al.Endometrial cancer associated symptoms: a case-control study.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(11):1187–92. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5657American Cancer Society.Key statistics for endometrial cancer.Ignatov A, Ortmann O.Endocrine risk factors of endometrial cancer: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, oral contraceptives, infertility, Tamoxifen.Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(7):1766. doi:10.3390/cancers12071766Johns Hopkins Medicine.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Agarwal M, Singh S Sr, Sinha S, Sinha U.Overcoming obstacles during caesarean section with a fibroid in the uterus, from diagnosis to decision: A case series.Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39642. doi:10.7759/cureus.39642Freytag D, Günther V, Maass N, Alkatout I.Uterine fibroids and infertility.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(8):1455. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11081455National Partnership for Women and Families.Your body throughout pregnancy.Mansour D, Hofmann A, Gemzell-Danielsson K.A review of clinical guidelines on the management of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.Adv Ther. 2021 Jan;38(1):201-225. doi:10.1007/s12325-020-01564-yPeinado-Molina RA, Hernández-Martínez A, Martínez-Vázquez S, Rodríguez-Almagro J, Martínez-Galiano JM.Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevalence and associated factors.BMC Public Health. 2023 Oct 14;23(1):2005. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16901-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Agarwal SK, Chapron C, Giudice LC, Laufer MR, Leyland N, Missmer SA,et al.Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Apr;220(4):354.e1-354.e12. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.12.039American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.MedlinePlus.Anemia.
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.
Perutelli A, Domenici L, Garibaldi S, Albanesi G, Baroni C, Salvati L,et al.Efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgery in challenging hysterectomies - a single institutional experience.Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Feb;26(4):1235-1240. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202202_28115Vannuccini S, Petraglia F.Recent advances in understanding and managing adenomyosis.F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-283. doi:10.12688/f1000research.17242.1USA Fibroid Centers.Hormones and fibroids: The role of progesterone and estrogen.Zhai J, Vannuccini S, Petraglia F, Giudice LC.Adenomyosis: Mechanisms and pathogenesis.Semin Reprod Med. 2020 May;38(2-03):129-143. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716687Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Care.Uterine (endometrial) cancer signs & symptoms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.Uterine fibroids.Nelsen LM, Lenderking WR, Pokrzywinski R, Balantac Z, Black L, Pokras S, et al.Experience of symptoms and disease impact in patients with adenomyosis.Patient. 2018;11(3):319–328. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0284-2American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial cancer.Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center.Uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.Pakish JB, Lu KH, Sun CC, et al.Endometrial cancer associated symptoms: a case-control study.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(11):1187–92. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5657American Cancer Society.Key statistics for endometrial cancer.Ignatov A, Ortmann O.Endocrine risk factors of endometrial cancer: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, oral contraceptives, infertility, Tamoxifen.Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(7):1766. doi:10.3390/cancers12071766Johns Hopkins Medicine.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Agarwal M, Singh S Sr, Sinha S, Sinha U.Overcoming obstacles during caesarean section with a fibroid in the uterus, from diagnosis to decision: A case series.Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39642. doi:10.7759/cureus.39642Freytag D, Günther V, Maass N, Alkatout I.Uterine fibroids and infertility.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(8):1455. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11081455National Partnership for Women and Families.Your body throughout pregnancy.Mansour D, Hofmann A, Gemzell-Danielsson K.A review of clinical guidelines on the management of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.Adv Ther. 2021 Jan;38(1):201-225. doi:10.1007/s12325-020-01564-yPeinado-Molina RA, Hernández-Martínez A, Martínez-Vázquez S, Rodríguez-Almagro J, Martínez-Galiano JM.Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevalence and associated factors.BMC Public Health. 2023 Oct 14;23(1):2005. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16901-3American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Agarwal SK, Chapron C, Giudice LC, Laufer MR, Leyland N, Missmer SA,et al.Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Apr;220(4):354.e1-354.e12. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.12.039American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.MedlinePlus.Anemia.
Perutelli A, Domenici L, Garibaldi S, Albanesi G, Baroni C, Salvati L,et al.Efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgery in challenging hysterectomies - a single institutional experience.Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022 Feb;26(4):1235-1240. doi:10.26355/eurrev_202202_28115
Vannuccini S, Petraglia F.Recent advances in understanding and managing adenomyosis.F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-283. doi:10.12688/f1000research.17242.1
USA Fibroid Centers.Hormones and fibroids: The role of progesterone and estrogen.
Zhai J, Vannuccini S, Petraglia F, Giudice LC.Adenomyosis: Mechanisms and pathogenesis.Semin Reprod Med. 2020 May;38(2-03):129-143. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716687
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Care.Uterine (endometrial) cancer signs & symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.
Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.Uterine fibroids.
Nelsen LM, Lenderking WR, Pokrzywinski R, Balantac Z, Black L, Pokras S, et al.Experience of symptoms and disease impact in patients with adenomyosis.Patient. 2018;11(3):319–328. doi:10.1007/s40271-017-0284-2
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Endometrial cancer.
Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center.Uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.
Pakish JB, Lu KH, Sun CC, et al.Endometrial cancer associated symptoms: a case-control study.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(11):1187–92. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5657
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for endometrial cancer.
Ignatov A, Ortmann O.Endocrine risk factors of endometrial cancer: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, oral contraceptives, infertility, Tamoxifen.Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(7):1766. doi:10.3390/cancers12071766
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Agarwal M, Singh S Sr, Sinha S, Sinha U.Overcoming obstacles during caesarean section with a fibroid in the uterus, from diagnosis to decision: A case series.Cureus. 2023;15(5):e39642. doi:10.7759/cureus.39642
Freytag D, Günther V, Maass N, Alkatout I.Uterine fibroids and infertility.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(8):1455. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11081455
National Partnership for Women and Families.Your body throughout pregnancy.
Mansour D, Hofmann A, Gemzell-Danielsson K.A review of clinical guidelines on the management of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.Adv Ther. 2021 Jan;38(1):201-225. doi:10.1007/s12325-020-01564-y
Peinado-Molina RA, Hernández-Martínez A, Martínez-Vázquez S, Rodríguez-Almagro J, Martínez-Galiano JM.Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevalence and associated factors.BMC Public Health. 2023 Oct 14;23(1):2005. doi:10.1186/s12889-023-16901-3
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
Agarwal SK, Chapron C, Giudice LC, Laufer MR, Leyland N, Missmer SA,et al.Clinical diagnosis of endometriosis: a call to action.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Apr;220(4):354.e1-354.e12. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.12.039
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Uterine fibroids.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for endometrial cancer.
MedlinePlus.Anemia.
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