A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Uterine Diseases
The uterus, or womb, is an important female reproductive organ. It is the place where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. If you have a uterine disease, the first sign may be bleeding between periods or after sex. Causes of abnormal bleeding include hormones, thyroid problems, fibroids, polyps, cancer, infection or pregnancy.
Treatment depends on the cause. Sometimes birth control pills treat hormonal imbalances. If a thyroid problem is the cause, treating it may also stop the bleeding. If you have cancer or hyperplasia, an overgrowth of normal cells in the uterus, you may need surgery.
Other uterine problems are endometriosis and adenomyosis. In endometriosis, the kind of tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. With adenomyosis, the tissue grows in the uterus's outer walls. Pain medicine may help; other treatments include hormones and surgery.
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Dilation and Curettage
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Hysterosalpingography(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Hysteroscopy(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Pelvic Exam(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Sonohysterography(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Ultrasound Imaging of the Pelvis(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Treatment
- Endometrial Ablation(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Laparoscopy(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
- Adenomyosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Cervicitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Double Uterus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Endometrial Hyperplasia(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- Uterine Polyps(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Related Issues
- Vaginal Pessary(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Health Check Tools
- Irregular Menstrual Bleeding(DSHI Systems)
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Tutorials
- Dilation and Curettage(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Diseases
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: WNT4 Müllerian aplasia and ovarian dysfunction(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
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Organizations
- womenshealth.gov(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Also available in Spanish
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Patient Handouts
- Adenomyosis
- Also available in Spanish
- Asherman syndrome
- Also available in Spanish
- D and C
- Also available in Spanish
- Endometritis
- Also available in Spanish
- Retroversion of the uterus
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
