Understanding the Uterus

A Main Player During Pregnancy
and Beyond

By Teri Brown

If you're a woman, chances are you've already met your uterus in one form or another. Usually, it isn't a pleasant experience. It comes in the form of your period or painful cramps. Most of the time, the only occasion we really pay attention to our uterus is when we are trying to get, or have already gotten, pregnant.

Dr. Deborah Wilson, an OB/GYN in private practice in Scottsdale, Ariz., says though the exact size of the uterus varies from woman to woman, it generally falls within a certain range. "The uterus is tiny when a girl is born, not much larger than an adult thumb," says Dr. Wilson. "Women who have never been pregnant generally have smaller uteri than women who have been pregnant. A normal uterus can weigh as little as 30 grams (.06 pounds) and as much as 100 grams (.22 pounds).

Dr. Wilson says many women, as they age, develop abnormalities that enlarge the uterus.

According to Dr. Wilson, the uterus is made of smooth muscle lined with glands. The smooth muscle is designed to contract during labor, orgasm and menstruation. "The glands grow thicker during the month with the stimulation of ovarian hormones and finally shed off during the menstrual cycle if no pregnancy occurs," says Dr. Wilson. "The cervix is the portion of the uterus that extends into the vagina. It is made of fibro-muscular tissue and is designed to dilate in order to allow the baby to exit the uterus." The only function of the uterus is to reproduce. Dr. Danne Young-Hawkins from Total Concept Healthcare in Logan, Utah, says it not only is the place where babies grow, but ithas other important roles as well.

"It also plays a role in blood flow to the ovaries, support of the vagina, bladder and rectum and, for some women, can be important for normal sexual function," says Dr. Young. "For instance, some women at risk of premature labor are asked to be careful about intercourse because the contractions of orgasm can trigger contractions. Those contractions can be an important part of a woman's sexual experience when she isn't pregnant as well."

Want to see more?

• Protecting Your Pelvic Floor: How Much Do You Know About This Part of Your Anatomy?
• A Pain in the..: Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
• The Life Cycle of the Placenta: A Major Player in a Woman's Pregnancy
• Talk about it!