6 lesser known facts about uterus every woman should know

Have you ever imagined how big the uterus is? In a non-pregnant woman, the uterus is the size of a pear.

The average dimension of the uterus is 8cm long, 5 cm wide and 4 cm thick.

However, the size of the uterus varies from woman to woman.

The uterus can expand to, say, the size of a watermelon. The wonder organ, uterus, begins expanding from the day one starts conceiving. As per a few health reports during the first trimester it expands to the size of a grapefruit and by the second trimester it reaches the size of a papaya. It takes almost more than a month for the uterus to shrink back to its normal size after child birth.

This important organ is located between the bladder and the rectum in the pelvic region. The pelvic floor muscles give a strong support to the uterus and keep it in place.

The uterus comprises perimetrium, which is the outermost layer, the myometrium, the middle layer which expands and contracts during pregnancy and childbirth and the endometrium or the inner lining of the uterus which plays an important role during menstruation.

Uterus didelphys is the condition where a woman is born with two uteruses. In layman terms it is called a double uterus. This is medically treated as it interferes with the pregnancy and also causes trouble during menstruation.

Also known as retroverted uterus, this condition is found in several women. In this case the uterus is slightly tilted than how it should be normally. A typical uterus tilts forward at the cervix and points towards the abdomen, however in retroverted condition, the uterus is tilted backwards and is curved towards the spine.

The uterus is susceptible to several complications like uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, and uterine cancer. When the uterine lining grows abnormally in other places it causes endometriosis.

An infection of reproductive organs is pelvic inflammatory disease. Sometimes the uterus slips out of position which is a condition known as uterine prolapse.