Size of Uterus

This is going to sound like a crazy question, but I always hear references to a uterus size in terms of comparing it to x months of pregnancy. My doctor has never referred to it that way, so it's got me curious...

I have a 10.7x6x7cm uterus with 2 fibroids, 2.5 and 4.6 cm each.

If anyone knows, I'd appreciate it.

Angelnight

Hi Angelnight!
Here's some information that might help:

" In its non-pregnant state, a typical uterus is approximately 7-8 cm long and 4 cm at its widest point."
From: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~a4holman/uterus.html

"A non-pregnant adult uterus is about the size of one half an adult fist. During pregnancy the uterus grows about 30 times larger than its nonpregnant size."
From: http://www.geocities.com/cmorales4/p96.html

If the cm docs talk about in lab reports matches the cm docs use to describe fundal height in pregnancy, then that would indicate your uterus is about the size of a 10 or 11 week pregnancy.

{Personally, I think it's rude of doctors to use the analogy, since there is no pregnancy involved and some women hearing the analogy have never had a baby, though may have desired one, so the analogy may deeply hurt.}

But, as long as that analogy is being used we will need some information about this. I hope someone can come by and explain it better for you. But I'll give it a try:

"Fundus is the medical term for the upper portion of the uterus between the fallopian tubes. Fundal height is measured using a tape measure and measuring from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your fundus. Fundal height is measured in centimeters and should closely match your baby's gestational age. So, for example, if you're 24 weeks pregnant, your fundal height should be 24 centimeters."
From: http://www.justmommies.com/articles/fundal_height.shtml

I hope this helps!! My uterus was 10cm x 6cm, with a 2x3cm fibroid. I wasn't too worried because I'd had 5 babies, and two were over 10lbs. But...still...
The bottom line is that if you have fibroids AND you're bleeding more than you can live with, it's time to take action. (I just had a myomectomy last Thursday to remove the offending fibroid, and I feel marvelous!)

I sooo hope that all goes well for you!
XOXOXXX

Hi Kythe,

Thanks so much, your information was very helpful.

I'm in limbo at the moment in terms of treating my fibroids. My gyno had recommended a myomectomy to preserve my ability for pregnancy if/when I was ready for it due to the position of the fibroids in the uterus. I stalled on the decision as the clock is ticking and no significant other in site along with fear of surgery along with other medical issues. 1 year later, I went in for my yearly ultrasound, and I had hyperplasia with atypia. I'm in my second round of fighting that off for the moment with hormones. The fibroids weren't all that problematic, but I'm also polycystic, so it impacted how often I got it.

Right now, I'm taking provera until December, waiting for another D&C, my 5th in 2 years and then I'll no more. In the meantime, I'm educating myself as much as I can.

Thanks again for your info!

Angelnight

You are so welcome, Angelnight!

My DD has polycystic ovarian syndrome, so I have an inkling of how it messes with matters. I should mention that along with the myomectomy ~ [my doc got out about 90% of the fibroid] ~ my doc also did a D&C and took samples. I wonder if your doc could do the D&C and also a myomectomy to take out the two fibroids. Back in December when I had my first D&C my doc inserted a Mirena IUD which gives off some progesterone locally, so keeps the uterine lining nice and thin. You see, I had a very thick endometrium prior to that D&C and the lab report came back pre-cancerous with some atypia. Even though a fibroid grew despite the progesterone, the endometrium stayed thin all this while (8 months!)! So that helps! I'm waiting for the lab report from this surgery...which is expected this time next week. She did say she thought all looked okay, so I'm hopeful.
Sometimes it's just a matter of getting from here to there, y'know?

If it's any comfort, I was really nervous about my first surgery. Yet it went well, and this time I wasn't nervous at all. And this one went even better! I had a spinal (each time), so was awake for the procedure; I found that very reassuring, as my doc talked to me through the first one and even gave me a "tour" of my uterus on a high-tech monitor. Very cool. There was no pain during the surgery, Recovery was actually pleasant ~ the nurses were sooo nice ~ and I just took it easy for a few days...a small amount of discomfort from the spinal. A bit of crampiness from the Mirena (initially) the first time, but nothing too bad. Three days home with some good movies and I was good to go.

I hope your experience is as gentle.
Please keep us posted.

My uterus was something like 15x10x7 cm. (click on "My photos" to see it after surgery -- warning -- not for the weak of stomach!) When I asked about how big that was, at first she just said, "Well, it's pretty grossly enlarged" and when I pressed she said it was the equivalent of a 24-26 week pregnancy.

Do be aware that ultrasounds don't show everything. When I had my ultrasound done 3 months before my hysterectomy, they said they could identify 2 fibroids, but when I had my actual surgery, there were more than 30, all between .5 and 3.5 cm. My uterus only weighed 370 grams, though -- I was hoping for a little more weight there.

I also wonder if maybe some Drs don't do this as they are sensitive to the combination of pregnancy and hysterectomys? I can see the argument to be made for this.

I think my Dr referred to my uterus as '19 weeks'. And I wonder if Drs do this in part to help relate to the pressures on the body? For me it explained the always bloated feeling, the 'gotta go gotta go' every couple of hours, and well some other less discussed things.

That being said, when she was doing the US she said my uterus was 17 by something (don't recall) and I thought she said it was double is normal size. I have 2 visible fibroids. The 1st was 72 mm and the second 17 mm.

Julie