Post menopause there are a number of bodily changes that a woman goes through. a common problem that afflicts aging and menopausal women is an enlarged uterus. there are a number of medical causes that may result in the enlargement of the uterus. Before we take a look at some of the most common causes, let us first try to understand what and enlarged uterus actually is.
Usually the size of a woman’s uterus is not more than the size of a closed fist. however when the uterus expands more than its normal size, the abdomen enlarges as well. You can easily discern this bloated abdomen with the naked eye. This is often accompanied by symptoms such as abnormal menstrual cycle, severe lower abdominal pain, flatulence, weight gain and headaches.
Uterine fibroids are one of the major causes for the appearance of an enlarged uterus. This is a common problem that affects around forty percent of aging and childbearing women at some or the other point in their lives. These non cancerous growths on the uterus appear inside or outside the uterus or may be embedded in the uterine wall. This can be present as a group of clusters or a single tumor. while the smaller tumors may cause little or no discomfort, larger fibroids can result in pelvic and abdominal pain, frequent urination, heavy menstrual bleeding and constipation.
With menopause setting in, uterine and cervical cancers are some of the most common health problems affecting women. This cancer usually affects the lining of the uterine wall. Apart from an enlarged uterus, cancer can also lead to bleeding, difficulty in urination and pain during intercourse.
Fluid filled sacs on the ovary can cause the uterus to expand. These ovarian cysts are usually benign appearing on the surface of or within the ovaries. usually there is little or no discomfort. however in some cases symptoms such as backache, abdominal pain, tenderness of the breasts and difficulty in urinating can be seen.
Adenomyosis is a medical condition wherein the tissue lining of the uterus grows within the uterine wall. This painful condition affects women over thirty and results in blood clots, vaginal bleeding and painful cramps.
Diagnosis is made by x-rays, physical examination, blood tests and biopsy. Based on this, your doctor may look into treatment options like medications, surgical examination, hormonal therapy and hysterctomy.