Retroverted Uterus

A retroverted uterus tilts backward instead of forward. Your uterus leans toward your spine instead of toward your belly. You can be born with it, or it can develop later in life.

Other names for it include:

• Tipped uterus
• Tilted uterus

Think of your uterus like the letter U. In a retroverted uterus, the curved part of the U aims toward your low back. The opening of the U is your cervix. It aims toward your belly.

It’s more typical for your cervix to point toward your rectum. The curved part of the U points toward your belly. This is called anteverted uterus.

Some people never know they have a retroverted uterus. That’s because it doesn’t always cause symptoms. It rarely causes health complications. About 1 in 5 women have one.

Symptoms of a retroverted uterus

Some people don’t experience any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, the most common are:

• Pain during your period
• Pain during sex
• Trouble using tampons
• Urinary problems, like needing to pee more often, UTIs or loss of bladder control

Retroverted uterus causes

You may have been born with one. Or it can happen later in life.

Reasons you may develop one include:

• Scarring: Scar-like tissues can cause your uterus to stick to other organs. These tissues may be from prior pelvic surgeries. Or they may be from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or another infection. This can pull your uterus backward.
• Fibroids: Uterine fibroids or other growths on your uterus can change its shape and position.
• Endometriosis: With this condition, extra tissue around your uterus can pull on it and make it tilt backward.
• Childbirth: Your pelvic floor muscles and ligaments become weaker after childbirth. This can cause your uterus to tilt backward.
• Menopause: Lower estrogen levels can weaken pelvic muscles and ligaments. This makes it harder for them to support your uterus. And it can cause your uterus to tilt backward.

How doctors diagnose it

Your healthcare provider will do a pelvic exam. During the exam, your provider can feel where your uterus and cervix are. They can tell which way they tilt. An ultrasound can confirm it.

How is it treated?

Your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatments:

• Treating the underlying condition: This means treating the condition causing the tilt.
• Exercises: Some providers can shift a retroverted uterus forward. Pelvic exercises, like Kegels, may help keep it in place.
• Pessary: This is a small, plastic, donut-shaped device that goes inside your vagina. It can help prop your uterus up.
• Surgery: Your provider can surgically change the position of your uterus.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Contact your healthcare provider if the pain and discomfort become too much to handle. Painful sex and painful periods are the two most common reasons you might see your provider. They’ll want to rule out any health conditions that may be causing your symptoms.

Are there any health risks from having a retroverted uterus?

Uterine incarceration is a rare but serious complication. This is when a retroverted uterus doesn’t shift to the anteverted position during pregnancy. Your uterus needs to shift so the fetus has room to grow. If it stays tilted backward, it can get “stuck” in your pelvis. That can cause health risks.

In most cases, a retroverted uterus doesn’t affect pregnancy, labor or delivery. Your provider is the best person to tell you about any risks with your pregnancy.

How does it affect fertility?

A retroverted uterus shouldn’t affect your fertility. You can still get pregnant and have a normal pregnancy. If you have infertility, another condition is most likely causing it.

Can it cause a miscarriage?

A retroverted uterus can’t cause a miscarriage. If you have a miscarriage, another factor likely caused it.

Does a retroverted uterus make it harder to give birth?

No. It only describes its position. It shouldn’t affect contractions or labor. And it shouldn’t affect your ability to have a vaginal delivery.

How can I prevent a retroverted uterus?

There’s nothing you can do to prevent it if you’re born with it. If you get it later in life, it could develop from a medical condition you can’t control. PID can sometimes cause a retroverted uterus. You can reduce your risk of PID by practicing safe sex.