Uterine Diseases

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

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• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

What are uterine diseases?

The uterus, or womb, is the place where a fetus grows during pregnancy. Uterine diseases are conditions that affect the uterus. These diseases can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancerous). They may affect your menstrual periods, your ability to get pregnant, or the health of your reproductive organs.

Some types of uterine diseases include:

• Adenomyosis. Tissue that usually lines the uterus grows on the outside walls.
• Cervicitis. Swelling or inflamed tissue of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus.
• Endometrial hyperplasia. An overgrowth of normal cells inside the uterus.
• Endometriosis. Tissue like the lining of the uterus grows in other places in your body.
• Uterine prolapse. The uterus drops in to the vagina due to weakened pelvic muscles. This can happen after a few vaginal births, menopause, or because of obesity.

What causes uterine diseases?

Various factors can cause uterine diseases. These can include hormonal imbalances, thyroid problems, fibroids, polyps, cancer, infection, or pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of uterine diseases?

Your symptoms will depend on the type of uterine condition you have. The first sign of a problem with the uterus may be abnormal bleeding. Bleeding could occur between periods, be very heavy, or last much longer than usual. Other symptoms may include bleeding after sex or pelvic pain.

How are uterine diseases diagnosed?

To find out the cause of your symptoms, your health care provider may:

• Ask about your symptoms and medical history
• Do a pelvic exam
• Order blood tests or imaging tests
• Do a biopsy

What are the treatments for uterine diseases?

Treatment depends on the cause. It may include pain medicine, hormone therapy, or surgery. Your provider will work with you to choose the best treatment.

Start Here

• Uterine Conditions (March of Dimes Foundation)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Hysterosalpingography (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Hysteroscopy (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Laparoscopy (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Pelvic Exam (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Pelvis Ultrasound (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Dilation and Curettage (D&C) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Related Issues

• Vaginal Pessary (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Specifics

• Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Adenomyosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Cervicitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Double Uterus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (Harvard Medical School)
• Endometrial Hyperplasia (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Uterine and Bladder Prolapse (Harvard Medical School)
• Uterine Polyps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Müllerian aplasia and hyperandrogenism: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Analysis of outcomes of laparotomic, laparoscopic, and hysteroscopic symptomatic ısthmocele (niche)...
• Article: Genomic landscape of endometrial polyps.
• Article: Is the hysteroscopic surgery of isthmocele related to the niche dimensions?
• Uterine Diseases -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health Also in Spanish
• How to Find an Ob-Gyn (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

Patient Handouts

• Adenomyosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Asherman syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• D and C (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Endometrial ablation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Endometrial polyps (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Endometritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hysteroscopy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Retroversion of the uterus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish