The uterus is situated deep within the pelvis. It makes its presence felt during the reproductive years, when its inner lining bleeds intermittently and its lower portion, the cervix, produces mucus secretions. During a woman’s fertile years the uterus is the most prominent of the female reproductive organs, drawing attention with activities like menstruation and pregnancy. In contrast, before a girl reaches puberty and after a woman has her menopause, it moves through phases of change slowly and unobtrusively.
Position in the pelvis. Some women can accurately locate the position of their uterus because of the contractions they feel during orgasm or menstruation. These uterine contractions can be like pleasant ripples and are an enjoyable part of sex for some, while other women find them painful. For women who don’t experience these clues, it can be helpful to picture where the uterus sits inside the abdomen: the vagina is below, the bladder in front, the loops of the bowel above, and the rectum behind.
Strong support tissues called ligaments hold the uterus in place in the pelvis. If these ligaments are not able to provide the necessary support and the uterus becomes displaced (this is one type of prolapse), this can create pain or changed function in the four surrounding organs. For example, pain during sex may result from the uterus pressing on and even into the vagina, while pressure on the bladder from the uterus can lead to urinary incontinence.
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