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What does a normal uterus look like


Jaw-dropping image showing what a uterus looks like has people talking

Content note: Graphic image below.

A recent social media post is sparking debate – and misinformation – about the size of a ‘normal’ uterus.

Shape-shifting lady bits

The quite graphic – scroll on with this graphic content warning – update features a very small uterus and ovaries which have been removed from a post-menopausal woman via a radical hysterectomy. (This procedure involves the removal of the uterus and other reproductive organs and is performed to treat a number of medical conditions.)

In the accompanying image, a doctor’s hand holds the uterus and ovaries – and they look very, very tiny.

Commenters in their thousands marvelled at the photo, believing that their own uterus might look like this petite example. But chances are it won’t and this photo purporting to be the norm is actually far from it.

Also? It’s kind of weird that we are celebrating the size of uteruses now! Isn’t there enough body image pressure without marvelling at petite reproductive organs?!

What is ‘normal’?

The now viral post, shared by the Institute of Mums Facebook page, goes on to detail just how adaptable a uterus is – true! – and provide some statistics on its changing size.

For the record a ‘normal-sized’ uterus is pear-shaped and apparently around 7.6 cm long, approximately 4.5 cm wide and 3.0 cm thick.[1][2]  It typically weighs around 60 grams.

The uterus obviously changes size during pregnancy, stretching to accommodate the baby or babies. During menopause, the uterus shrinks in size as a woman ages getting smaller the further she gets from menopause.

The doctor who posted the original image on Instagram confirms this is a particularly tiny uterus and not really the norm for your average woman.

Anyone else surprised by how small it is?!! ❤️This incredible visual from @docshawarma (via @vbmaternitywellnessllc) —…

Posted by Institute of Mums on Saturday, 6 July 2019

The size of a drumstick

“After you give birth, the uterus immediately starts contracting to shrink itself,” the repost continues.

That part, at least, is true. Anyone who has had a baby will be familiar with those postpartum contraction feels, especially if you are able to breastfeed your baby. The uterus cleverly keeps sizing down in the days and weeks after birth.

While lots of people went for the information shared in this post hook, line and sinker, a number of nurses piped up to flag the photo as misleading.

“As an OR nurse I have NEVER seen a uterus that small on any women,” one wrote under the image. “I am having a hard time buying that is a grown woman’s uterus – and trust me I have assisted on over 100 hysterectomies in 30 years. ”

“I actually thought it looked like teen or toddler size,” nurse Tracie continued.

“I agree,” another commenter posted. “I’ve seen many hysterectomy’s never seen them this small.”

“Absolutely agree, I‘m a surgical assistant,” someone else commented.

“As a student nurse in theatre on gynae ops, wombs I saw removed were more the size and shape of a chicken drumstick,” another Facebook user wrote.

“This is way too small and I think it’s photoshopped, I’ve seen lots of hysterectomies and the uterus is usually like a pear, not a walnut,” someone else confirmed.

So there you have it. This photo shows some amazing reproductive organs, but the average woman of childbearing age will sport much larger versions of those depicted. 

View this post on Instagram

Cuteruses Before Duderuses, Ovaries Before Brovaries . . . . . . . . . #uterus #cuterus #obgyn #residency #ovaries #instagay #gaydoc #lgbtinmedicine #surgery #hysterectomy #prochoice #endometriosis

A post shared by Ram Sharma, MD, MPH (@docshawarma) on

Posted on by Pip Lincolne

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Anatomy of pregnancy and birth - uterus

Anatomy of pregnancy and birth - uterus | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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What does the uterus look like?

One of the most recognised changes in a pregnant woman’s body is the appearance of the ‘baby bump’, which forms to accommodate the baby growing in the uterus. The primary function of the uterus during pregnancy is to house and nurture your growing baby, so it is important to understand its structure and function, and what changes you can expect the uterus to undergo during pregnancy.

The uterus (also known as the ‘womb’) has a thick muscular wall and is pear shaped. It is made up of the fundus (at the top of the uterus), the main body (called the corpus), and the cervix (the lower part of the uterus ). Ligaments – which are tough, flexible tissue – hold it in position in the middle of the pelvis, behind the bladder, and in front of the rectum.

The uterus wall is made up of 3 layers. The inside is a thin layer called the endometrium, which responds to hormones – the shedding of this layer causes menstrual bleeding. The middle layer is a muscular wall. The outside layer of the uterus is a thin layer of cells.

Illustration showing the female reproductive system.

The size of a non-pregnant woman's uterus can vary. In a woman who has never been pregnant, the average length of the uterus is about 7 centimetres. This increases in size to approximately 9 centimetres in a woman who is not pregnant but has been pregnant before. The size and shape of the uterus can change with the number of pregnancies and with age.

How does the uterus change during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, as the baby grows, the size of a woman’s uterus will dramatically increase. One measure to estimate growth is the fundal height, the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. Your doctor (GP) or obstetrician or midwife will measure your fundal height at each antenatal visit from 24 weeks onwards. If there are concerns about your baby’s growth, your doctor or midwife may recommend using regular ultrasound to monitor the baby.

Fundal height can vary from person to person, and many factors can affect the size of a pregnant woman’s uterus. For instance, the fundal height may be different in women who are carrying more than one baby, who are overweight or obese, or who have certain medical conditions. A full bladder will also affect fundal height measurement, so it’s important to empty your bladder before each measurement. A smaller than expected fundal height could be a sign that the baby is growing slowly or that there is too little amniotic fluid. If so, this will be monitored carefully by your doctor. In contrast, a larger than expected fundal height could mean that the baby is larger than average and this may also need monitoring.

As the uterus grows, it can put pressure on the other organs of the pregnant woman's body. For instance, the uterus can press on the nearby bladder, increasing the need to urinate.

How does the uterus prepare for labour and birth?

Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as 'false labour' or 'practice contractions', prepare your uterus for the birth and may start as early as mid-way through your pregnancy, and continuing right through to the birth. Braxton Hicks contractions tend to be irregular and while they are not generally painful, they can be uncomfortable and get progressively stronger through the pregnancy.

During true labour, the muscles of the uterus contract to help your baby move down into the birth canal. Labour contractions start like a wave and build in intensity, moving from the top of the uterus right down to the cervix. Your uterus will feel tight during the contraction, but between contractions, the pain will ease off and allow you to rest before the next one builds. Unlike Braxton Hicks, labour contractions become stronger, more regular and more frequent in the lead up to the birth.

How does the uterus change after birth?

After the baby is born, the uterus will contract again to allow the placenta, which feeds the baby during pregnancy, to leave the woman’s body. This is sometimes called the ‘after birth’. These contractions are milder than the contractions felt during labour. Once the placenta is delivered, the uterus remains contracted to help prevent heavy bleeding known as ‘postpartum haemorrhage‘.

The uterus will also continue to have contractions after the birth is completed, particularly during breastfeeding. This contracting and tightening of the uterus will feel a little like period cramps and is also known as 'afterbirth pains'.

Read more here about the first few days after giving birth.

Sources:
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Labour and birth), StatPearls Publishing (Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis), Department of Health (Clinical practice guidelines: Pregnancy care), Better Health Channel Victoria (Pregnancy stages and changes), Mater Mother's Hospital (Labour and birth information), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (The First Few Weeks Following Birth), Queensland Health (Queensland Clinical Guidelines – maternity and neonatal), King Edward Memorial Hospital (Fundal height: Measuring with a tape measure), Royal Hospital for Women (Fetal growth assessment (clinical) in pregnancy), MSD Manual (Female internal genital organs)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: October 2020


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