How Does Heavy Lifting Affect Your Uterus?

Heavy Lifting with Women

For the most part, the uterus is a pretty resilient part of a woman’s body. After all, it is capable of housing an infant during its growth during pregnancy and then returning to its pre-pregnancy size. However, there are certain things that you can do that are known to be hard on your uterus, including heavy lifting.

A Look at How Does Heavy Lifting Affect Your Uterus

Long-term or repeated heavy lifting as a female can actually cause what is called a uterine prolapse. A uterine prolapse is when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened, which support the uterus, and the uterus descends downward. When the uterus descends downward, it slips its way into the vagina and can get pretty severe if not tended to by a medical professional.

Some People Are More Prone to Uterine Prolapse Than Others

Some women will lift heavy items most of their life and never have an issue with uterine prolapse, but there are others who have specific risk factors that make them more vulnerable to prolapse, including women who:

  • are obese
  • have had multiple births or given birth to a large infant
  • have experienced a prior prolapse of the uterus
  • are older or who have already gone through menopause

There are ways to mend a prolapsed uterus, most of which involve something like a surgically installed sling or stitches to hold the uterus in place. If left untreated, the entire uterus can collapse, but before that, painful symptoms can emerge like discomfort during sex and pelvic aching. If you believe you have a prolapsed uterus or have any more questions about how does heavy lifting affect your uterus, reach out to us at Avant Gynecology today and schedule an appointment.

Avant Gynecology serves patients at two locations: Piedmont Hospital in Buckhead and Northside Hospital. Our mission at Avant Gynecology is to provide exceptional, compassionate care to women at every stage of their lives. Our providers strive to be at the forefront of knowledge and skill in the fields of women’s health and gynecologic surgery, so our patients can get the best care possible. Avant provides state-of-the-art surgery services and comprehensive gynecologic care, such as annual exams, diagnostic and screening tests; a full range of contraceptive options; specialized services such as bio-identical hormone therapy, hormone pellets, ThermiVa vaginal rejuvenation, and more.