Retroverted uterus: what is this position of the uterus in pregnancy and what it implies
The retroverted uterus is a particular condition of the uterus that presents itself in an abnormal position, tilted backwards instead of forward. The causes that can determine the condition of the retroverted uterus are different, as well as the symptoms with which it can present itself. . Let's find out together what this position of the uterus entails, even for women seeking pregnancy or in anticipation of childbirth. First, however, let's debunk some false myths about conception:
Retroverted uterus: what is it and what does it imply?
The retroverted uterus consists of an abnormal position of the uterus, which is turned upside down in the pelvic cavity. About 20-30% of women have the retroverted uterus, also called retroflexed uterus: their uterus does not it is tilted forward towards the bladder, but resting slightly backwards on the intestine.
The retroverted uterus can be congenital (and therefore present from birth) or acquired, when the position of the uterus changes over time for different causes that can range from the presence of a fibroid to endometriosis. The retroverted uterus can also present following childbirth or an abortion.
See also
What are the causes that cause it?
In most cases, the retroverted (or retroflexed) uterus is congenital and its causes are therefore not fully known. When, on the other hand, this condition occurs later in time, it is always linked to specific causes: let's see the main ones together.
Some women acquire the retroversion of the uterus following childbirth (especially if it is particularly difficult) or in menopause, due to the weakening of the muscles of the pelvic tissue. For other women, however, it is due to the presence of fibroids or tumors that cause them to deform and enlarge. This enlargement of the uterus can also occur during pregnancy.
Other possible causes of the appearance of the retroverted uterus are pathological conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or other types of infections. In these cases, scars or adhesions can form on the uterus that cause it to slide backwards.
The retroverted uterus may eventually be due to the consequences of a surgical operation or to an underweight condition, which leads to lowering of hormone levels.
What are the symptoms with which it presents?
The retroverted uterus can be completely asymptomatic: it is not, in fact, a pathology or malformation, but simply an anomaly in the position of the uterus. symptoms, in other cases some may occur.
Among these symptoms we find pelvic or lumbar pain, abdominal tension, pain during sexual intercourse or when using tampons, dysmenorrhea (ie particularly painful menstruation), bowel or bladder disorders.
Does the retroverted uterus affect conception and pregnancy?
Often women who discover that they have a retroverted uterus fear that it can lead to fertility problems, making it more difficult to conceive and get pregnant. This is a myth that needs to be dispelled: the retroflexed uterus does not affect conception and the possibility of getting pregnant! In cases where getting pregnant is more complicated there are always other concomitant problems in the reproductive system.
Having ascertained that the retroflexed uterus, if in some cases it can make conception slightly more complicated, does not generally affect the possibility of pregnancy, during pregnancy itself it could involve some specific symptoms: in the first weeks, for example, you could feel a certain burden on the rectum or having bladder problems, but as the uterus increases in size during gestation these symptoms disappear and the uterus itself tends to resume the correct position.
The retroflexed uterus, therefore, changes spontaneously already around the third month. Therefore, it does not involve any problems for the purpose of childbirth. The likelihood of miscarriage is statistically the same in women with a retroverted uterus as in those with a normal uterus. It is therefore not a condition that should be particularly scary in relation to pregnancy and childbirth.
