Can You Have a Small Uterus & Be Pregnant?
It is not possible to confirm or rule out pregnancy on the basis of one or even several symptoms. Until your doctor detects a fetal heartbeat, any pregnancy symptoms you have experienced are merely indicators that you may be pregnant, says the American Pregnancy Association, or APA. If your uterus seems small but you have reason to think you are pregnant, consult a doctor and request an examination.
One Among Many
A growing uterus is one sign of early pregnancy, but it is by no means the only -- or earliest -- one. Other signs and symptoms include a missed period, breast enlargement, nausea, fatigue, food cravings or aversions and a frequent need to urinate. You may experience a host of symptoms, or only one or two, some of which appear within weeks, or even days, of conception. If you experience symptoms of early pregnancy but don’t see any change in the size of your abdomen, pregnancy is still a possibility. Even if your doctor has conducted a pelvic exam and detects no growth in your uterus, she’s unlikely to rule out pregnancy. She will probably recommend a re-check in several weeks if you fail to get your period and continue to experience pregnancy-like symptoms.
- A growing uterus is one sign of early pregnancy, but it is by no means the only -- or earliest -- one.
- Even if your doctor has conducted a pelvic exam and detects no growth in your uterus, she’s unlikely to rule out pregnancy.
Early Uterine Growth
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Situated in the pelvis between your bladder and rectum, the uterus is a pear-shaped organ that typically measures about 3 inches long before pregnancy, according to MedlinePlus, a website of the National Library of Medicine. The primary function of the uterus is to protect and nourish a baby before birth. You’re correct to think that your uterus should be growing if you’re pregnant, because the uterus continually expands to accommodate a developing fetus. You and your doctor may be unable to detect growth in your uterus before 12 weeks, the APA says, because the uterus generally stays tucked among the bones of your pelvis until that point in your pregnancy. As a result, you’re likely to experience many other symptoms of pregnancy before your tummy visibly bulges.
- Situated in the pelvis between your bladder and rectum, the uterus is a pear-shaped organ that typically measures about 3 inches long before pregnancy, according to MedlinePlus, a website of the National Library of Medicine.
- You’re correct to think that your uterus should be growing if you’re pregnant, because the uterus continually expands to accommodate a developing fetus.
Other Considerations
Numerous reasons could explain why your uterus may appear small, even if it is growing. According to Birth.com, your height, weight and build play a role in how prominent your pregnancy bulge is, as does your baby’s orientation within the uterus. Additionally, if this is your first pregnancy -- or if you have a tight, well-toned body core -- your abdominal muscles and ligaments may be at work keeping your uterus tucked within your pelvis. Family history and ethnicity may also be factors.
- Numerous reasons could explain why your uterus may appear small, even if it is growing.
- According to Birth.com, your height, weight and build play a role in how prominent your pregnancy bulge is, as does your baby’s orientation within the uterus.
Recommendations
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While you await confirmation of pregnancy, consider making any lifestyle changes necessary to protect the health of the fetus you may be carrying. Read up on how to protect a fetus from various food dangers, and avoid medical procedures, drug use, exposure to certain chemicals and participation in activities that may be harmful during pregnancy. Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor, let her assess whether your uterus has grown and keep her apprised of any new symptoms that develop. If your doctor ultimately rules out pregnancy as the cause of your symptoms, work together to determine the real cause.
- While you await confirmation of pregnancy, consider making any lifestyle changes necessary to protect the health of the fetus you may be carrying.
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References
- What to Expect When You're Expecting; Arlene Eisenberg et. al.
- American Pregnancy Association: Early Signs of Pregnancy
- MedlinePlus: Uterus
- Birth.com: Feeling/Measuring Your Belly, Listening to Baby
- American Pregnancy Association: Is It Safe While Pregnant?
- Ameer MA, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. [Updated 2020 Apr 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
- Ameer MA, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, et al. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, uterus. [Updated 2020 Apr 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Uterus. Updated June 2, 2020.
- NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. About menstruation. Updated January 31, 2017.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health: HealthyWoman.gov. Endometriosis. Updated April 1, 2019.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health: HealthyWoman.gov. Uterine fibroids. Updated April 1, 2019.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Endometrial polyps. Updated June 2, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health: HealthyWoman.gov. Uterine cancer. Updated April 1, 2019.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Pap smear. Updated February 26, 2020.
- Mayo Clinic. Fetal ultrasound.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Pelvis x-rays. Updated April 21, 2019.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. Hysteroscopy. Updated June 2, 2020.
Writer Bio
Judy Fisk has been writing professionally since 2011, specializing in fitness, recreation, culture and the arts. A certified fitness instructor with decades of dance training, she has taught older adults, teens and kids. She has written educational and fundraising material for several non-profit organizations and her work has appeared in numerous major online publications. Fisk holds a Bachelor of Arts in public and international affairs from Princeton University.