In medical practice, calcifications are defined as deposits of calcium salts. Moreover, this can occur in the cavity of various organs. Often calcifications in the uterus are detected.
The uterus is an unpaired hollow organ that consists of three layers. The inner layer is the endometrial, represented by powerful muscles. The widest middle layer is the myometrium. The outer section of the uterine structure is the peritoneum.
Description
Calcifications in the uterus are many times more common than on the peritoneal layer or in the myometrium. Also, they are often found on the uterine neck. In each of these cases, calcine is a certain kind of protective reaction of the body. Salts having inorganic properties encapsulate areas in which tissue decay is observed. This prevents the spread of the necrotization process to other areas. The formation of calcium deposits is secondary, the disease in the full sense of the term is not.
Calcifications in the uterus are very common. Medical statistics report that calcium deposits are formed in approximately 30% of all women, and in most cases the process proceeds without any external manifestations.
Reasons for education
All causes of calcium deposits can be divided into several groups. The first group includes the so-called trigger factors of occurrence, that is, those that directly determine the formation of calcine. Among them:
- Lesions of organs located in the pelvis, traumatic in nature. Such lesions include, but are not limited to, diagnostic curettages, surgical abortions, hysteroscopy, and other similar manipulations. They lead to an increase in the probability of invasion of the uterine tissues by pathogenic microorganisms. The greatest danger are abdominal operations performed on the organ.
- A predisposition to the development of infectious and inflammatory lesions of a genetic and other nature. For example, endometriosis or endometritis can develop under the influence of burdened heredity. If a woman has at least one sick relative on an ascending line in five generations, then the probability of calcification in women increases to 30%, if two sick relatives are present, then the probability increases to 50%. Fortunately, pathology is not inherited in a dominant or autosomal recessive manner. Only the features of the reproduction system can be transmitted.
- Stenosis of the cervical canal and genital tract. Such violations cause reflux of menstrual blood and other secretions back into the uterine cavity, as a result of which stagnation of these substances occurs, as a result, the likelihood of developing an infectious lesion (most often endometritis) is significantly increased.
- Poor environmental conditions in the place of residence of the woman. Under the influence of environmental factors, adenomyosis can develop, which is a risk factor for the accumulation of calcium salts.
- Menstrual irregularities. A large number of various bacteria are present in the vaginal cavity, some of which are pathogenic, capable of infecting tissues and organs (human papillomavirus, herpetic agents, mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, staphylococci, streptococci and other representatives of the pyogenic flora). With a delay of menstruation, blood stagnation occurs, which contributes to the formation of an environment comfortable for the reproduction of bacterial agents.
- Allergic reactions to the effects of internal and external factors. Most often, in this case, we have in mind an alimentary cause, that is, improper nutrition and the entry of antigens into the systemic circulation.
- Excessively early or late onset of sexual activity. Both options are undesirable for women's health. With the late onset of sexual activity, the aggressiveness of microorganisms increases. With excessively early - dystrophic processes in the pelvic organs are initiated. The result is an increased risk of calcification.
- Late birth. They can have a negative effect on the state of the uterus, often cause anatomical changes that can lead to the death of the uterine tissue (full, partial).
- Pathological changes in the endocrine system. They also include diabetes mellitus, disorders of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and other pathologies.
- Pathological changes in the reproductive system. In the first place, the provoking factors are infectious diseases: adnexitis, endometritis, and others.
- Scar on the uterus after cesarean. Calcifications can occur on the scar, which arose as a result of abdominal operations on the organ.
- Decrease in local, general immunity. Adverse ecology, stress, heavy physical exertion (provoking excessive production of corticosteroids), frequent viral respiratory diseases, hypothermia.
The protective reaction of the body
As already mentioned, calcifications in the uterus are a protective reaction of the body. The basis for the formation of calcium deposits is invasion of the uterine tissues of an infectious or viral nature. As soon as an organ is damaged by a microorganism or a virus, the likelihood of developing purulent inflammation increases sharply. In such a case, encapsulation of necrotic tissue is required. It is this role that rumen calcifications on the uterus play after cesarean.
Indirect factors
The second group of causes of pathology is usually attributed to factors that indirectly determine the beginning of the deposition process. Among them are:
- Alcohol abuse, smoking. These factors negatively affect the state of tissues, immunity.
- Irrational nutrition, contributing to a decrease in immunity.
- Intense loss of calcium ions from bone structures.
- Obesity. Being overweight is an increased risk factor.
- Elevated levels of calcium salts in the blood. This situation is abnormal, it is fraught with the development of calcification not only in the uterus, but also in other organs and tissues. This factor is often provoking in the formation of calcifications in the mammary glands, prostate gland, kidneys, lungs, aorta. The uterus in this case is less likely to be affected, however, in each such case, we can talk about multiple lesions of the organ.
- Stressful situations. Against the background of stress, general, local immunity decreases, since there is an increased production of cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine by the adrenal glands.
These factors are not the only ones that provoke the occurrence of calcifications. This should be considered when determining the etiology of the disease.
What calcifications are now clear. Consider the symptoms.
Symptomatology
Calcifications in the uterus practically do not manifest any symptoms. The presence of mild pulling pains in the lower abdomen can testify to the process of salt deposition.
But, as a rule, in most cases, calcium deposits are detected incidentally when conducting studies about other pathologies or conditions. Most often, with calcification, symptoms of the main pathology are revealed, which became a provocateur of the formation of calcifications.
In this case, the list of probable symptoms is very extensive. Practice shows that most often the cause is endometritis and endometriosis. It is these two diseases that cause the onset of calcification.
An appointment with a gynecologist in a antenatal clinic should be made if there is a suspicion of the development of pathology.
The main signs of inflammation
The main signs of the process of inflammation in the mucous membranes of the uterus are:
- Soreness in the lower abdomen, which can be of varying intensity. When the process is complicated, the pain of a shooting, aching, pulling character predominates. The severity of discomfort is directly dependent on the degree of aggressiveness of the main pathogen, the general state of immunity, the location of the lesion. Uncomfortable sensations can irrigate into the projection of the uterus, lower back, legs, and inguinal region.
- The appearance of bloody discharge, having an unpleasant odor. In some cases, which is extremely rare, the exudate may consist entirely of pus. As a rule, the discharge has a sharp putrefactive smell and the color of meat slops. They are plentiful in nature.
- Violation of the cycle of menstruation up to a delay of a week. This situation is not normal.
- Elevated to febrile and above marks body temperature. If the disease has a chronic form, then relatively mild hyperthermia can occur.
- Symptoms of general intoxication: vomiting, nausea, dizziness, pain in the head.
- Deviations in the reproductive function of women. Fertility is not excluded, but may decline.
Most often, calcium deposits occur against the background of long-running chronic endometritis, and therefore the clinical picture may be blurred. In such cases, an urgent appointment with a gynecologist in a antenatal clinic is required.
Diagnosis of calcifications
Gynecologists are involved in the diagnosis of deviations, but this is not a primary task. The main task is to identify the main pathology, which was a provocateur of the formation of calcifications. Most often, such a pathology is endometritis, but not in all cases. Therefore, the patient must be carefully examined.
Medical history
The primary method involves the collection of individual and family history. The patient should describe her complaints, the limitation period of their appearance, nature.
Types of Research
Then a bimanual examination is required, examination of the genitals with the help of mirrors. In addition, you need:
- A general laboratory study of blood samples to identify the classic picture of inflammation, accompanied by an increase in the level of leukocytes, their sedimentation rate.
- Biochemical study of venous blood samples.
- The study of organs located in the pelvis using ultrasound. Uterine calcifications on ultrasound will be noticeable.
- X-ray of organs located in the pelvis. Both benign and malignant neoplasias can be calcified.
- ELISA, PCR diagnostics. Allows you to identify the main causative agent of the pathology, if it has an infectious etiology.
- Smears from the cervical canal, vagina.
- Bacteriological crops for the presence of culture media.
These studies are sufficient to identify the root causes of calcifications. In some cases, CT, MRI are indicated.
Can calcifications be removed in the uterine cavity? Let's figure it out.
Therapy
Calcifications are not subject to treatment. Therapy of the main pathology is necessary. Calcinates are not a disease, the dangers themselves do not carry, but only indicate the presence of the disease. Calcified sites are not prone to progression, so you can not remove them, but live with them calmly.
Now it became clear what calcifications are.