Increased tone of the posterior wall of the uterus during pregnancy: causes, features of treatment and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Local increase in uterine tone is common during gestation and in most cases is not a dangerous complication. But sometimes it is a pathological condition that can be a threat to abortion. The following describes the symptoms and causes of uterine hypertonicity, what it is, diagnostic methods and treatment tactics.

Increased uterine tone

The uterus is the main organ of the female reproductive system. It consists of muscles that form three layers: the outer serous, the epithelial inner and the myometrium located between them. Myometrium fibers branch in three different directions, which allows the uterus to stretch during pregnancy and contract well during childbirth. Too early contraction or excessive tension of the muscles of an organ is called hypertonicity.

Increased uterine tone is most often not a serious complication of pregnancy, but you should not completely ignorethis symptom. Muscles can tense locally or along the entire inner surface of the organ. Locally, tension can spread along the anterior or posterior wall of the muscular organ. The only way to accurately diagnose the problem is with an ultrasound. Minor pulling pains in the abdomen and discomfort in the lower back do not always indicate the presence of pathology.

Causes for the development of pathology

The causes of uterine hypertonicity along the back wall during pregnancy are divided into conditionally physiological and pathological. Expectant mothers often complain of pulling pains that radiate to the back, with multiple pregnancies or with a large fetal mass. In this case, the muscles are overstressed and greatly stretched. Sometimes the body simply does not have time to adjust to the “new mode of operation” and experiences a serious load. Stress and constant fatigue can lead to complications during pregnancy.

Serious risk factors are bad habits, especially if a woman is not ready to give up smoking and alcoholic beverages for the period of gestation. The pathological condition is more often diagnosed in expectant mothers under the age of 18 and over 35 years. The reason for the increased tone of the posterior wall of the uterus in pregnant women in the early stages may be the attachment of the fetus to the posterior wall (which happens in most cases), because the blood supply is better there and the wall is thicker, as well as local inflammation caused by implantation. In this case, inflammation does not mean the presence of infection. This is a temporary tone along the back wall of the uterus, caused byphysiological reasons.

Gynecological and general diseases

If a woman is diagnosed with hypertension, sometimes an additional examination should be carried out (most often it is recommended to do this in a hospital setting) to determine if the clinical condition is caused by a pathology. In the uterus, pathological changes can be detected, for example, endometriosis or fibroids, general infections and viral diseases (especially accompanied by fever), too much or too little amniotic fluid, inflammation in the ovaries or in the uterus.

Low Progesterone

Uterine hypertonicity can become a serious complication of pregnancy if it is caused by low levels of progesterone, a hormone necessary for successful gestation. Progesterone is produced in the ovaries and provides the most favorable conditions for conception. During pregnancy, the hormone promotes prolonged relaxation of muscle fibers so that a miscarriage does not occur. After the fifteenth week of gestation, progesterone begins to be produced by the placenta. Insufficient levels of the hormone can cause hypertonicity along the posterior wall of the uterus.

Tone on the posterior wall of the uterus: genetics

In one of the most serious cases, tone is caused by a genetic incompatibility between mother and fetus. It is quite difficult to eliminate genetic incompatibility with medicines. This pregnancy will be difficult. In some cases, doctors recommend an artificial interruption to a woman. The patient's body perceives the fetus as a foreign body and tries toget rid of it yourself. The result is a tone that can lead to a miscarriage.

Symptoms of uterine hypertonicity

Drawing pains in the lower abdomen occur with hypertonicity along the anterior wall or general, tone along the posterior wall of the uterus during pregnancy is more often marked by discomfort in the lower back. A woman may notice spotting on her underwear. In some cases, this is a variant of the norm (dark red, slight discharge after examination in the early stages or implantation of the embryo), but sometimes it is seriously life-threatening (with bleeding, the discharge is abundant and bright red, often this is the beginning of a miscarriage). In any case, it does not hurt to once again consult with the observing gynecologist.

Tone on the back wall of the uterus during pregnancy is manifested by pain in the back, most often in the sacrum and lower back, lower abdomen. At the end of the second and third trimesters, that is, from about the twenty-second week until delivery, hypertonicity can not only be felt, but also seen. The abdomen hardens, "stones", can change shape. If bleeding occurs, urgent hospitalization is necessary, because this indicates a placental abruption. In some cases, hypertension in the first trimester may be asymptomatic or occur in response to medical manipulations (gynecological examination).

Possible consequences of hypertonicity

What is the danger of uterine tone during pregnancy? Often doctors talk about the threat of interruption if the ultrasoundresearch revealed hypertonicity. In reality, this condition is not always dangerous for the he alth of the mother and the normal development of the fetus. But in any case, if there are pulling pains in the lower back or lower abdomen, spotting and any changes in well-being, you should consult a gynecologist in order to change the tactics of pregnancy in the future.

The tone of the uterus along the back wall during pregnancy can be a short-lived condition. But if the clinical symptom persists for a long time, then serious oxygen starvation of the fetus may occur due to clamping of the vessels that take part in the blood supply to the fetus. This threatens oxygen starvation. There is a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen, vital for the timely growth and development of the child.

The most serious complication of hypertonicity is premature placental abruption. Even with a small amount of bloody discharge, an urgent consultation with a gynecologist is necessary, which will decide on treatment in a hospital. Most likely, the treatment will be carried out there, that is, under the constant supervision of specialists. This will help maintain the pregnancy and bring the baby to a term that is acceptable for childbirth.

Methods for diagnosing pathology

The tone of the uterus during pregnancy on the back wall or front is diagnosed by ultrasound. If the patient complains of nagging pain and spotting, then ultrasound is performed according to indications at any time.time. Hypertonicity, characterized by an asymptomatic course, can be diagnosed during a routine examination or ultrasound. The diagnosis is made if the patient complains of cutting pains in the lower abdomen, which become stronger during physical exertion, discomfort in the lower back, tension in the uterus.

During an ultrasound diagnosis, the doctor assesses the condition of the uterus, how thick the walls of the organ are, how the placenta develops and how well it provides the child with all the necessary nutrients and oxygen. During the procedure, the diagnostician will assess the condition and length of the cervix to detect possible symptoms of dilation. The gynecologist may prescribe additional studies. This is usually a blood test for progesterone and other hormones.

Treatment

How to treat hypertonicity of the posterior wall of the uterus? Based on the results of diagnostic studies, the gynecologist will evaluate the possibility of treatment at home, but it is usually recommended to spend several days in the hospital so that qualified doctors make sure that the pregnancy is normal or prescribe appropriate treatment in a timely manner. All women diagnosed with hypertension are recommended strict bed rest, antispasmodics and sedatives.

General recommendations of doctors

Treatment of hypertonicity of the posterior wall of the uterus during pregnancy is selected strictly individually. A woman is recommended to observe strict bed rest for some time, which is not always possible at home,refuse any physical activity. You need to try to take a position in which the uterus is as relaxed as possible. It can be a pose on the side or even on all fours. You should eliminate stress, get plenty of rest and sleep at least eight hours a day. Usually, doctors also recommend avoiding sexual intercourse for a while.

Drug therapy

If a uterine tone is diagnosed along the back wall during pregnancy, the doctor will prescribe a few medicines to the woman to help stabilize the condition. Antispasmodics are usually recommended, which help to reduce the contractility of the organ ("No-Shpa", candles "Papaverine"), general sedatives (tincture of valerian or motherwort).

Magnesium preparations ("Magne B6" in combination with vitamin B) are often prescribed, which eliminate muscle strain and normalize metabolic processes. After sixteen weeks of pregnancy, it is possible to use special preparations that normalize the tone, but only under the supervision of a doctor.

The causes and treatment of uterine hypertonicity during pregnancy are interrelated. So, if the pathological condition is caused by common diseases or gynecological problems, drugs are additionally prescribed that normalize the woman's he alth. With a lack of progesterone, the gynecologist will recommend taking "Duphaston", "Utrozhestan". Dosage and duration of medication are selected individually.

Prevention of excessive tone

Spouses wishing to become parents shouldresponsibly approach pregnancy planning. Timely preparation and early registration in the antenatal clinic is necessary so that the gynecologist can control the woman's condition. Before conception, it is desirable to treat inflammatory diseases in the gynecological part and visit a geneticist. This is especially important for women who are planning a pregnancy over the age of 35.

During the period of bearing a child, you should regularly visit an observing gynecologist, exclude intense physical activity, but do not forget about moderate activity, which will only benefit the expectant mother, avoid stress and nervous strain. It is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations, because otherwise you may face serious complications of pregnancy: fetal hypoxia, premature birth, impaired functioning of the placenta, spontaneous abortion.

Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

Pediatrician, doctor of the highest category Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky, whose opinion is listened to by many future and already established parents, claims that the very concept of "hypertonus" does not exist in obstetrics (except for rare cases in childbirth). This term began to be used by diagnosticians during the Soviet era, who were based on an erroneous understanding of what they see during a pelvic ultrasound.

The uterus is a muscular organ of the reproductive system, and the muscles should normally be in a certain tone. Local tension is not hypertonicity. This can be caused by the release of a certain amount of hormones into the blood, the attachment of an embryo,mechanical pressure on the anterior wall of the abdomen or cervix by an ultrasound probe, movements of the child, normal physiological activity of the organ, bloating, and so on, that is, absolutely natural causes.

Minor pain during pregnancy is normal. "Normal" pain does not increase, is not accompanied by atypical discharge mixed with blood, does not look like contractions (rhythmic contractions), occurs haphazardly, and may slightly increase with physical activity. Pregnancy is a new state of quality for the female body, so the reaction may be different.