Comment from: 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: March 27
I suffer for a minimum of two weeks per month with abdominal pain in my uterus. I also get severe lower back pain and have issues with my bowels and frequent urination during this time. This usually begins 3-5 days before I begin my period and then the pain subsides and I have a very heavy period with lots of bleeding and clots. Once my period ends I continue to have abdominal pain for another 4-5 days. Does this sound normal? My doctor said if I wait till menopause that it will all go away. I am 46 years old and each month I consider if waiting is worth it or if I should pursue a hysterectomy.
Comment from: helmish15, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: March 11
Three years ago, I had a hysterectomy because of fibroids. My symptoms were severe: very heavy bleeding, and large blood clots. In the past, I told my doctor, but she took a wait-and-see attitude. Finally, the pain was so severe that I changed doctors and changed my life literally. When I had the tests run, he discovered more than 20 fibroids of all shapes and sizes. I had severe endometriosis cysts and vey early stages of cancer. I am very happy today; my doctor saved me.
Comment from: rollermom60, 45-54 FemalePublished: March 04
I am 48 years old and have been dealing with uterine fibroids for a long time. They did not seem to have much impact on my life until a few years ago when all 'hell broke loose' every month. (Having to go through five super-heavy tampons as well as six heavy-duty pads in a nine-hour period I do believe would be considered severe bleeding.) Anemia is my middle name. I am also playing the waiting game and hope menopause is around the corner for me. In the meantime, I deal with the flood gates opening every month, and I take an iron supplement, which has helped me tremendously. I tried prescription as well as over-the-counter iron pills, but the constipation was just too much to handle. Floradix Iron & Herb Tablets (comes in liquid form as well) is a God-send. Look for it in your health food stores or on line. I was going to have the uterine ablation procedure, but when I found out that there is a 50% chance it will work, I have decided to hang in there.
I am a 24-year-old Latina. In August, I was experiencing severe pain in my abdomen, so I went to the ER to get it checked out. The doctor told me that I probably had kidney stones, and they could not see them with the ultrasound. He did not want to do a CT scan because of my age, so he gave me medicine to help me pass the stones. Two weeks ago, I had to return to the ER because I was having more severe pain. This time they did an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. The doctor said the results were inconclusive. I followed up with my doctor, and she scheduled a trans-vag ultrasound, which I did yesterday. She called last night to tell me the results had not come back yet, but she got the full report of my ER visit. She then told me that it showed a uterine fibroid that I have had since 2004! Nobody ever told me that, and I gave birth in 2006. I cannot believe that I have lived with this for four, almost five, years and no one said anything. In late 2004 early 2005, I had an ultrasound performed because I had lower abdominal pain that the doctors wrote off as a UTI, which is funny because the only symptom I had was the pain. I didn't have any urinary symptoms at all. It also showed gallstones, which they also did not tell me about in the ER.
Comment from: yams41, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: December 17
I have uterine fibroids and have had them for years. When my OB/GYN first told me I had fibroids, we decided to take the watch-and-wait route because I didn't have any problems. Now about 10 years later, I have severe/killer cramps, backaches, and constipation. I do not want to have a hysterectomy and my doctor also feels the same. Since I am close to menopause, he suggests that I keep playing the waiting game. I don't have any heavy bleeding, probably thanks to the birth control pills that I take. I found that if I take a painkiller on the first sign of pain, it help lessens the severe cramps. I am also starting to watch my diet. I make sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Exercise also helps reduce the cramping.
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Suggested Reading on Uterine Fibroids (Benign Tumors of the Uterus) by Our Doctors
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy located outside the inner lining of the uterus. The majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube. Symptoms include abdominal pain, amenorrhea, and vaginal bleeding. Treatment options include observation, medication, or surgery.
Though uterine cancer's cause is unknown, there are many factors that will put a woman at risk, including: over age 50, endometrial hyperplasia, using hormone replacement therapy, obesity, using tamoxifen, being Caucasian, having colorectal cancer. Symptoms of cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer) include abnormal vaginal bleeding, painful urination, painful intercourse, and pelvic pain. Treatment depends on staging and may include radiation therapy or hormone therapy.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
A miscarriage is any pregnancy that ends spontaneously before the fetus can survive. Miscarriage usually occurs before the 13th week of pregnancy. The cause of a miscarriage cannot always be determined. The most common causes of a miscarriage in the first trimester are collagen vascular disease (lupus), hormonal problems, diabetes, chromosomal abnormalities, and congenital abnormalities of the uterus.
Benign uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Three types of benign uterine growths are uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine polyps. Symptoms include: abdominal pressure, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. Diagnosis and treatment of benign uterine growths depends upon the type of growth.
Menstruation (menstrual cycle) is also referred to as a "period." When a woman menstruates, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding of the uterine linking is the menstrual blood flow. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There can be problems with a woman's period, including heavy bleeding, pain, or skipped periods. Causes of these problems may be amenorrhea (lack fo a period), menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), or abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding. There are a variety of situations in which a girl or woman should see a doctor about her menstrual cycle.
Trying to get conceive, or become pregnant can be challenging, frustrating, and an emotional rollercoaster for some couples. There are things you can do to chart progress, which may ultimately lead to a successful healthy pregnancy, or, when necessary, lead to discussions with a fertility specialist. Being aware of your menstrual cycle, charting your fertility pattern, knowing the reasons for infertility, and treating infertility are key points to discuss with your partner and physician.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Placenta previa is a condition during pregnancy when the placenta lies low in the uterus either partly or completely blocking the uterus. Women with placenta previa generally deliver their baby via cesarean delivery. There are several types of placenta previa: 1) a low-lying placenta, 2) a partial placenta previa, and 3) a total placenta previa, which covers and blocks the cervical opening. Women who are at risk of placenta previa are women who have delivered a previous baby by cesarean section, and are also at risk of placenta accreta, placenta, increta, or placenta precreta.
Surgical menopause happens when a premenopausal woman has her ovaries removed in a surgical procedure called a bilateral oophorectomy. An abrupt menopause follows, with women often experiencing more severe menopausal symptoms than if they were to go through natural menopause. Chemotherapy and pelvic radiation therapy may also cause menopause by damaging the ovaries.
Hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for viewing the
inside of the uterus. Hysteroscopy is performed by inserting a visualizing scope
through the vagina and into the cervical opening. Hysteroscopy allows
visualization of the inside of the uterus, including the openings to the
Fallopian tubes, as well as direct examination of the cervix, cervical canal,
and vagina.
Why is hysteroscopy done?
Hysteroscopy can be performed for both diagnosis or also for treatment
(therapeutic). Hysteroscopy is one of several procedures that your doctor may
recommend to evaluate or treat abnormalities of the uterus or cervix. Since
hysteroscopy examines the lining and interior of the uterus, it is not suitable
for evaluating problems within the muscular wall or on the outer surface of the
uterus.
Hysteroscopy may be recommended as one step in the evaluation of a number of
gynecological proble...
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I suffer for a minimum of two weeks per month with abdominal pain in my uterus. I also get severe lower back pain and have issues with my bowels and frequent urination during this time. This usually begins 3-5 days before I begin my period and then the pain subsides and I have a very heavy period with lots of bleeding and clots. Once my period ends I continue to have abdominal pain for another 4-5 days. Does this sound normal? My doctor said if I wait till menopause that it will all go away. I am 46 years old and each month I consider if waiting is worth it or if I should pursue a hysterectomy.
Related Reading: abdominal pain | lower back pain | menopause