|
|
1. Uterine diseases to watch out for by life stage
What can happen to the uterus?
1. Adolescence
Let's break down the problems that can occur in the uterus by growth period. Since the uterus is a reproductive organ, its appearance does not change much from the state at birth until the onset of menarche in adolescence. Therefore, it is mainly after adolescence that abnormalities can be detected in the health of the uterus.
The first problem you may face when you reach adolescence is that menarche does not come. 'Amenorrhea' without menstruation is broadly divided into primary amenorrhea (when menstruation does not start at all) and secondary amenorrhea (menstruation) in which menstruation does not occur in people who have had menstruation normally. The absence of menarche belongs to primary amenorrhea.
So, at what age should menarche appear? Menstruation varies from person to person because it is a physiological phenomenon that begins due to hormonal changes during puberty. However, if there are signs of secondary sex characteristics and menarche does not start, you should look for the cause, and if you do not see secondary sex characteristics, you can wait a little longer.
The average age of menarche in our country is decreasing compared to the past. In the past, if secondary sex characteristics appeared at the age of 9~8, it belonged to premature puberty*, and menarche was usually between the ages of 14~16. However, these days, it is better to look at the secondary sex characteristics as a whole and get tested rather than based on age.
*Early puberty: The onset of puberty relatively earlier than in other children
2. Post-menarche
After menarche, menstrual irregularities and polycystic ovary syndrome become a problem. Menstrual irregularities can be experienced by anyone in the first 1~2 years of menstruation. However, if the cycle is irregular even when it is time to become regular, you may have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. There are many causes of polycystic ovary syndrome, but one of them is a hormonal imbalance in which more male hormones are secreted instead of female hormones. Hormonal imbalances can cause symptoms such as acne and facial hair growth, which is not common in women.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is related to insulin sensitivity, obesity, and hormones, so it may recover spontaneously if you take good care of your body without surgery.
|
3. Childbearing age
After menstruation has established itself to a certain degree of regularity, endometriosis can develop as the child enters the 20s.
The lining of the uterus is the area where menstruation occurs. The endometrium of women of childbearing age periodically swells in preparation for implantation, and if pregnancy does not occur during this process, the endometrium sheds on its own, which is called menstruation. When cells in the endometrium misplace outside the uterus or in other parts of the body, this is called endometriosis.
Endometriosis usually occurs around the uterus, such as the ovaries and the space behind the uterus, but it can occasionally settle at a point far from the uterus. The problem is that the hormones flowing throughout the body can cause pain and bleeding even in the position where the endometrial cells have fallen. For example, if endometrial tissue settles in the nasal passages, nosebleeds occur once a month during the menstrual cycle. In some cases, endometrial cells may even settle in the lungs or eyes. Once a month, I bleed and shed tears of blood.
When endometrial cells enter the muscle layer instead of the lining, it becomes adenomyosis. Endometriosis and adenomyosis are usually treated with medication, but if adenomyosis is lumped together in a certain part and has become adenomyomas, surgical treatment may be limited to that area.
|
|
4. During pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you may be worried about premature birth, which is the birth of a child ahead of schedule. Premature birth often has no cause or no cause, but cervical atony can be one of the causes.
The passage through the cervix is called the cervix. When a pregnancy occurs, the fetus and uterus grow larger and larger, and the cervix plays a role in holding the fetus from coming out as it falls downward due to its weight. If so, cervical insufficiency means that the power to hold the uterus is weak. When cervical insufficiency occurs, the fetus flows downward. In order to prevent this, if the cervix is not good during pregnancy or if asthenia is expected, a cervical suture should be performed to tie the affected part in the 4~5th month of pregnancy.
|
5. After childbirth
After giving birth, the uterus shrinks to the size of a fist within 1~2 minutes. However, if the uterus does not shrink normally after childbirth, postpartum hemorrhage will occur, in which the bleeding continues to flow. Even if you give uterine contractions, you may not be able to contract. When the muscles of the uterus do not contract, it is called myasthenia gravis. If postpartum hemorrhage persists due to myasthenia gravis, it can be life-threatening, so you need to be very vigilant.
6. Menopause
In middle age, many uterine problems can occur, including uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and inflammatory diseases. Particular attention should be paid to malignant diseases such as uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer. Cervical cancer can be prevented with vaccinations and regular checkups. Let's try to maintain the health of the uterus by steadily managing malignant diseases.
What about old age? In old age, women are prone to pelvic organ prolapse. Structurally, women have a larger space in their pelvic bones compared to men. Because you have to give birth. The underpinning of this space is a muscle called the pelvic floor muscle, and as the pelvic floor muscles weaken with age, the organs can be pushed downward and dislodged. It's a good idea to continue strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises*.
*Kegel exercises: Exercises that alternate contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles
*Kegel exercises: Exercises that alternate contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles
2. Uterine Health FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
I'm curious about my womb!
|
Q. Could back pain be a problem with the uterus?
If you have fibroids or inflammation in the uterus, you may also experience back pain. Women may go to orthopedics or neurosurgery first if they have back pain, but a check-up by an obstetrician and gynecologist is also very helpful in differential diagnosis. If there is no problem with the gynecological examination, then let's have a different suspicion.
|
|
Q. Can I take birth control pills to delay menstruation?
There are 28 contraceptives in one set. If you take one daily according to the number, you will have regular menstruation on the date indicated on the pill. If you want to postpone menstruation for 1~2 weeks due to a trial period or a specific reason, you can take it temporarily.
|
|
Q. I have more menstruation than usual, should I get tested?
The pattern of menstruation is influenced by hormones. If ovulation occurs early or an immature egg occurs during the cycle, it may look different than usual in terms of color, quantity, etc. So you don't have to be too anxious. However, if you use more than 5 sanitary napkins on the heaviest day of the cycle, it is also recommended to have an ultrasound.
|
|
Q. I don't have a baby, do I need to check my menstrual cycle?
If you are not expecting a baby, menstrual irregularities are not a major health problem. However, if amenorrhea persists for more than 3 months outside of menopause, the endometrium may be stimulated and develop endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer in the future. It's a good idea to visit your doctor for menstrual injections or get tested.
|
|
Q. Do I still need to be screened for uterine cancer after my hysterectomy?
If you have had a hysterectomy for a condition related to cervical cancer, it is recommended that you be screened for uterine cancer. This is because there is a possibility of relapse. However, if you have had an extraction due to uterine fibroids or adenomyosis, you do not need to be tested.
|
|
Q. Does simple endometrial hyperplasia require hysterectomy?
If you are not expecting a baby, it is recommended that you have it removed. This is because simple endometrial hyperplasia may progress over time to complex endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer with dysmorphia. Of course, it is possible to proceed with medication without enucleation, but it can be difficult to manage mentally.
|
|
Q. If my ovaries are removed, do I need to take hormones or medications?
Female hormones are involved in beauty and play an important role in osteoporosis, so it is recommended for those who have had their ovaries removed before menopause. However, hormones are not recommended for those who have breast or endometrial cancer.
|
Q. Does the national vaccine interval for cervical cancer become less effective than recommended?
Q. I have bleeding after receiving the vaccine. Why?
First of all, an ultrasound examination should be performed to accurately investigate the cause of the bleeding. If the test does not reveal any other diseases, it is considered a side effect of the vaccine, but there is no need to worry because the bleeding caused by the vaccine is usually temporary. However, if the amount of bleeding is too high, you can take medication.
Q. Should I worry about fibroids after menopause?
Uterine fibroids are not a big concern after menopause. However, it would be a good idea to have your ovaries examined once a year through a vaginal ultrasound.
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!