If you are trying to have a baby and your gynecologist has told you that you have a retroverted uterus, you may be wondering if this poses a fertility problem.
It is normal to be worried and ask yourself the following questions: Will my retroverted uterus allow the sperm to enter properly? Are there more appropriate positions during intercourse to increase the chances of pregnancy?
The reality is that, for most women, having a retroverted uterus is not a fertility problem, but sometimes this morphological alteration is related to other pathologies that can hinder pregnancy. This is the case, for example, of endometriosis.
What is a retroverted uterus?
An inverted or retroverted uterus refers to the uterus being tilted and leaning towards the rectum and the spine. This means that the lower part of the uterus is directed backwards and not towards the abdomen and bladder, as the anteverted uterus normally does.
As you can see, the uterus can not only have very varied morphologies, but it can also adopt different positions. Positions that are absolutely functional and not pathological. Therefore, if you have a retroverted uterus, it is possible that your gynecologist will not treat this situation because, although it may cause some discomfort, it is not a disease.
What causes a retroverted uterus?
Despite advances in gynecological and reproductive medicine, it is still not known with certainty why many women are born with this anatomical variation. It is possible that you were born with a retroverted uterus and it is a natural anatomical peculiarity. But it can also happen that your uterus, which had a normal position, has rotated for different reasons:
- Because of the enlargement of the uterus that occurs when you become pregnant. If the uterus becomes inverted by pregnancy, it is common for this organ to return to its normal position after the first trimester of gestation, as a result of the weight of the fetus.
- Occasionally, retrogression of the uterus may occur during the postpartum period. This is a transitory consequence due to the distension or tearing of the ligaments that support the uterus.
- As a consequence of the weakening of the pelvic ligaments, many women, when they reach menopause, suffer from this condition that they did not previously have.
- A retroverted uterus can also be caused by an accumulation of pelvic scar tissue adhesions resulting from diseases such as endometriosis, salpingitis or pelvic inflammation. In these cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the adhesions.
What are the symptoms of a retroverted uterus?
Many women who have this anatomical deviation are not even aware of it, as it does not always present symptoms. However, some women do notice:
- Frequent pain during sexual intercourse, so try other positions to avoid discomfort.
- Pain in the lumbar or pelvic area during premenstrual syndrome and menstruation.
- Back pain during intercourse.
- Urinary incontinence or urine retention depending on whether the cervix rests on the bladder or the urethra, preventing its exit.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Difficulty using tampons.
- Chronic constipation due to the pressure exerted by the uterus on the rectum.
What the uterus hides
We have already explained that a retroverted uterus is not a fertility problem as such, but sometimes it can be associated with other pathologies that do hinder pregnancy, as in the case of endometriosis. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly study your uterus to rule out or treat possible problems.
Although it may seem surprising to you, many women come to our clinic who, after several IVF attempts in other clinics, have not achieved pregnancy and we then discover that they have undiagnosed malformations in the uterus.
This can happen due to the lack of expertise of the gynecologist and also because the morphology of the uterus changes throughout the menstrual cycle and certain defects can be hidden depending on the time at which the examination is performed. Therefore, it is necessary that you work with a gynecologist whose experience and skills allow him/her to discover everything that your uterus may be hiding.
Why a retroverted uterus needs to be studied and diagnosed
Although your retroverted uterus may be nothing more than a morphological aspect, which has been like this since before you were born, it is advisable to study your case very well. As we have already mentioned, this uterine retroversion may be due to a pelvic inflammatory disease, to possible adhesions, or it may be caused by endometriosis.
If your inverted uterus is not only a morphological issue, but is associated with endometriosis or pelvic diseases, these pathologies, and not the position of your uterus, are the possible cause of your fertility problems.
In addition, if you are undergoing IVF treatment (or artificial insemination), it is also useful to know the position of your uterus. The reason for this is the possibility of preventing possible complications during the transfer, at the time of introducing the cannula with the embryo.
In these cases, the experience of the gynecologist will be essential because, if the position of the uterus is not taken into account when introducing the embryo, this important step of the treatment could result in pain or small bleedings that will hinder or prevent the nesting of the embryo in the uterus. A large part of the success of IVF also depends on the expertise of the gynecologist at the time of the embryo transfer.
It is also important to evaluate the position of your uterus, whether in anteversion or retroversion, before you undergo certain medical procedures such as hysteroscopy, uterine curettage or placement of an intrauterine device (IUD). Your gynecologist should know which is the orientation of the body of the uterus in relation to the cervix to avoid any discomfort and reduce possible risks.
Treatments for retroverted uterus
In general, this morphological alteration does not usually require any type of treatment.
However, if you have a lot of discomfort or if the cause of your retroverted uterus is due to diseases such as severe endometriosis, salpingitis or pelvic inflammation, you may need surgery. In this way we can remove the adhesions and get your uterus back to its natural position and be fully functional.
In Juana Crespo we are specialists in fertility repair surgeries that allow us to solve various disorders such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, adhesions, uterine malformations, etc. that affect your reproductive system and complicate your desired pregnancy.
If you are looking for pregnancy without success, call us at 961 042 557 or write to us at info@juanacrespo.es. We will study your case to know what is the position of your uterus and what is hindering your pregnancy. Only then we can define the most appropriate personalized treatment for you to become pregnant with a retroverted uterus.
