The uterus in the body of a woman is the main body responsible for the normal development of future offspring. The ability of a woman to bear children depends on her condition. The structure of the uterus can be represented in the form of three layers:
- Endometrium (mucous layer)
- Myometrium (composed of muscles)
- External (a thin film that covers the uterus)
The muscle layer of the uterus is periodically reduced, since this ability is necessary for the implementation of the birth process in a natural way, so any gynecologist monitors the tone of the uterus during pregnancy. In cases where uterine walls are often contracted, it is customary to talk about hypertonicity - the uterus is too active. During childbirth, hypertonicity is considered a positive phenomenon, since frequent reduction of the walls of the uterus pushes the fetus, which facilitates and accelerates the birth process. However, this phenomenon during pregnancy adversely affects the condition of the fetus and can lead to termination of pregnancy.
The tone during pregnancy rises due to exposure to various causes. For example, if a pregnant woman gets severe stress, that is, the nervous system is in a restless state. And if earlier it restrained the walls of the uterus from excessive contractions, now it may simply not have time to fulfill this function. The tone in pregnant women becomes noticeable in the last trimester, when the nervous system begins to increase excitability, and, as a result, the contraction of the walls of the uterus increases.
An increase in tone in women in early pregnancy may occur due to insufficient secretion of a hormone called progesterone. Most often, progesterone is produced in smaller quantities when a woman's body has an increased level of male hormones that block progesterone. Due to the lack of this hormone, the uterus cannot develop normally, therefore it does not grow evenly with the fetus. When the small uterus has to stretch, the muscle layer begins to contract, trying to return to its previous state. Such activity can lead to a miscarriage.
Uterine tone during pregnancy will certainly increase if serious diseases, such as a tumor or any other disease of an inflammatory or hormonal nature, begin to develop in a woman’s body. A woman in late pregnancy may experience increased tonus. As a rule, in such cases, the activity is caused by too much stretching of the walls of the uterus with polyhydramnios or multiple pregnancy. This can happen even if the fetus is actively developing and becomes large enough. These situations can not be ignored, as they can lead to premature pregnancy. Therefore, you must constantly consult with your doctor and undergo all scheduled examinations.
An increased tone of the uterus can manifest itself in the form of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. And in the third trimester, cramping pains and a hard tummy are added to these symptoms . If these symptoms are present, an unscheduled check with a specialist will not be superfluous, since a negligent attitude can lead, if not to a miscarriage, then to complications in the development of the fetus. Indeed, strong contractions contribute to the detachment of the placenta, as a result of which oxygen and all necessary substances enter in a smaller volume.
The tone of the uterus during pregnancy is diagnosed simply and easily. Any obstetrician-gynecologist is able to determine an increased contraction of the walls of the uterus even with a simple examination. Of course, then the diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound or tonometry - this is a special apparatus that allows you to determine the tone of the uterus during pregnancy, which is applied to the woman’s tummy.