What Is A Tilted Uterus? 5 Things To Know About How It Affects Your Sex Life (And Getting Pregnant)
It's more common than you'd think.
getty The uterus is a part of the female reproductive system where babies are conceived and grow. Normally, the uterus is positioned straight and upright. However, in about 20-30 percent of women, the uterus is tilted. If a woman has a tilted uterus, which is also referred to as a retroverted uterus, this means that the uterus is "tipped" bac, so that it points towards the back of the pelvis.
Tilted uteruses in women are actually quite common and in some cases, a woman may never even know that she has one since she won't encounter any symptoms at all. But how do you know if you have a tilted uterus — and what causes them in the first place?
1. There are a few main causes of a tilted uterus.
There are a couple reasons why the uterus tips back. Childbirth can sometimes lead to a retroverted uterus as the tension that happens during pregnancy can weaken the muscles in the pelvis and tip the uterus into a different position. However, the uterus can actually go back to its normal position after childbirth for many women.
Health issues can also cause a tilted uterus. Conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids create scarring that can lead to the uterus moving to a different position. A tilted uterus can also just simply be genetic. In some cases, the uterus just might not move into the forward straight position as a woman's body reaches adulthood.
2. A tilted uterus usually has some standard symptoms.
While some women may never experience any symptoms, the most common symptoms of a tilted uterus include pain during intercourse and menstruation. Some other symptoms that a woman may have are frequent urinary tract infections, trouble using or feeling discomfort with tampons, and back pain during intercourse.
3. It can affect your sex life.
Since some of the symptoms of a retroverted uterus are pain during intercourse, it can have an impact on your sex life. Doctors believe that a tilted uterus is actually a big reason behind pain during sex.
Since having a tilted uterus means that the uterus is positioned differently in the body, it can cause certain sex positions to feel very uncomfortable for women. With a retroverted uterus, the ligaments that support it can be stretched and moved into a position that makes it painful during sex. Women with a tilted uterus must change positions in order to feel more comfortable during sex. Face-to-face, spooning, or a missionary position with your legs straight and close together usually will provide the most ease.
The most important thing is to communicate with your partner so that you both know what feels the most comfortable so you can both enjoy sex.
4. Can a tilted uterus affect a woman's pregnancy?
Good news: a tilted uterus it does not affect a woman's chances of getting pregnant or their actual pregnancy. A tilted uterus will only be considered as a reason for infertility after all other reasons have been eliminated.
It also does not have any affect on the health of a pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy may actually cause the uterus to tip back into the straight position. There's also usually no negative affects on the labor or delivery of the baby.
5. How to treat a tilted uterus.
If symptoms are severe, doctors can reposition the uterus with surgery. The surgery is called uterine repositioning and it provides lasting pain relief for women experiencing the severe symptoms that can come with having a tilted uterus.
Some other ways to reposition the uterus are by using a pessary, which is a silicone device that's inserted into the vagina to reposition the uterus. However, this is only a temporary solution for the pain because leaving it in for too long can cause an infection. Another solution which is also not permanent but will help ease the pain is an exercise called the knee-chest position. To do the position, you lie down and bring your knees forward to your chest to relieve the pain.
Of course, it is always very important to get a professional diagnosis to know if you really have a tilted uterus. A doctor can usually determine if the uterus is tilted during a routine pelvic exam. Although some women may experience pain, a tilted uterus is usually not related to any serious health problems.
The most important thing to do is to make an appointment with a doctor to see if a tilted uterus may be the cause for any symptoms.
Sloane Solomon is a professional writer and editor. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors in English Writing. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her daydreaming in French about coffee, online shopping, travel, and baby animals.