Do you know what the correct position of the uterus is? Very few women do! That’s because it’s hardly ever discussed. Uterine position only starts to actually impact a woman’s life when she begins fertility investigations. This condition is usually detected through a transvaginal ultrasound that shows any abnormality in the reproductive organs. But the question is: does an inverted uterus or any alteration hinder pregnancy? What does an inverted uterus look like, and why does it happen?
The uterus is the main reproductive organ, in addition to, of course, the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is where the baby grows and is nourished during the 9 months of pregnancy. However, when it comes to conception, any change that may occur in it can be a factor that prevents pregnancy. The correct and normal position of the uterus is with the entrance facing forward and the cavity situated near the bladder, pointing toward the woman’s bladder. However, not all women have a uterus positioned this way. A uterus with the uterine cavity facing the back is considered inverted, and this can cause some problems even if the woman is unaware that she has this uterine position.
Not that the inverted uterus (retroverted, reversed, or tilted) is a serious problem—in fact, it’s a condition that is not acquired, you don’t catch any disease that makes the uterus like this. The inverted uterus comes that way from the factory; the woman is born with it in that position. However, it is not a significant impediment for pregnancy to occur, nor will it bring major concerns for women who are already pregnant. It’s worth noting that in addition to the inverted uterus, the other accompanying organs, the ovaries and fallopian tubes, will also be inverted (pointing towards the woman’s back). Symptoms of an inverted uterus may include:
- Heavy bleeding during menstruation
- Persistent cramps
- Pain when having a bowel movement or urinating
- Pain during sexual intercourse
Inverted Uterus and Fertility
An inverted uterus can be due to a condition or a situation—that is, it can be mobile and simply be in this reversed position, or it can be located there since birth. In this case, women with such a uterus should pay attention to the way they have sexual intercourse. It’s important during sex to make sure ejaculation happens toward the back, meaning penetration in the doggy-style or similar position. The ejaculate will then reach the correct spot, the entrance to the uterus. From this, we can conclude that: women with an inverted uterus are not infertile; they may only find it more difficult to get pregnant if sex is not performed in the right position. It’s also important to remember that sperm can swim! So it’s possible to become pregnant even if intercourse isn’t in the ideal position.
During pregnancy, an inverted uterus won’t cause major problems; a pregnant woman may feel more discomfort when urinating or having a bowel movement, but it will not harm the pregnancy in any way. As for delivery, the woman can indeed have a normal birth and does not need to resort to a cesarean.
See also: Does Uterus Size Indicate Pregnancy?
Photos: Nick in exsilio
