Pain of the uterus

Pain in the uterus can have various causes, although these may not always affect the uterus itself, but may also radiate to the uterus from other, directly adjacent, internal (sexual) organs. One of the most common causes of pain in the uterus is pain during menstruation – so-called dysmenorrhea. If menstruation is accompanied by excessive abdominal pain and cramps in the uterus, this can be caused, for example, by too high prostaglandin levels, too low estrogen/progesterone levels, benign uterine tumors (myomas, cysts) or congenital uterine malformations.

Endometriosis can be another reason for painful complaints in the uterus. Endometriosis is the occurrence of uterine mucosa outside its natural position, e.g. in the uterine muscles, on the fallopian tubes/ovarian tubes, in the vagina, but also in the intestines, the bladder or even the lungs. This dislocated uterine mucosa is subject to the hormonal cycle of the woman, just like the actual uterine mucosa, so that after the mucosal lining has been built up, there is also abortive bleeding due to the rejection of the mucosa during menstruation.

Depending on their location, these external foci can cause considerable pain (uterine or abdominal pain) and bleeding outside the uterus. Furthermore, harmless pain in the uterus during pregnancy can also occur when the uterus has to adapt to the size of the child during the stretching and growth process. Another reason for uterine pain can be an inflammation of the lining of the uterus as a result of an infection (endometritis).

This is usually caused by bacteria rising from the vagina or cervix. Characteristic is a local pressure pain over the uterus and an additional occurrence of fever and bleeding outside the menstrual period. If there is inflammation of the ovaries, this can also lead to pain that may be felt in the area of the uterus, but this is usually one-sided pain that radiates more to the left or right. A uterine prolapse, in which the uterus protrudes out of the vagina, can also cause pain in the abdomen. In addition, malignant tumors of the uterus can also lead to pain in the abdomen, although this is usually only the case in an advanced stage when it spreads to other pelvic/abdominal organs.