What Is Retroverted Uterus?

Retroverted uterus is a condition in which the uterus is positioned so that it tips backward toward the spine rather than forward toward the navel. It is often called a tilted uterus or tipped uterus.

Retroverted uterus is a common, usually harmless condition that affects about one out of every five women.

This article examines the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of retroverted uterus.

Retroverted Uterus Symptoms

In most cases, a retroverted uterus doesn’t cause any symptoms, and a person is unaware they have the condition.

Though there are no specific symptoms, some side effects reported can include lower back pain, pain during sex, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Retroverted Uterus and Trying to Conceive

Having a retroverted uterus itself does not make it harder to become pregnant. However, underlying conditions that can cause a retroverted uterus, such as endometriosis or fibroids, can make it more difficult to conceive. A retroverted uterus is only considered a cause of infertility if all other possible causes have been ruled out.

Causes

In most cases, a retroverted uterus is present at birth. Conditions or surgeries that cause adhesions or scarring in the pelvic area can also pull the uterus back and cause it to become retroverted. They include:

• Endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Fibroids
• Pelvic infection or surgery

Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can also lead to a retroverted uterus due to the stretching or weakening of the muscles and ligaments supporting the uterus.

Diagnosis

A healthcare provider can often determine what position the uterus is in with a pelvic exam. A retroverted uterus can sometimes look like a fibroid or mass, and a rectovaginal exam might become necessary. If whether the uterus is retroverted is still unclear, a transvaginal ultrasound can also assist in its diagnosis.

Treatment

In most cases, treatment for a retroverted uterus is unnecessary. However, any underlying causes may require treatment.

If the retroverted uterus is causing symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend knee-chest exercises or a vaginal pessary to help reposition the uterus. However, these are both considered temporary solutions and may not help at all.

Pregnancy With a Retroverted Uterus

For most people with a retroverted uterus, the uterus stops tipping backward between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. This change of position typically causes no problems throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. In rare cases, an incarcerated uterus occurs when the uterus becomes stuck within the pelvis during the second trimester, often leading to miscarriage.

Prognosis

In most cases, a woman is unaware of having a retroverted uterus and does not experience any symptoms. If there are symptoms, underlying conditions might need treatment. The prognosis will depend on the underlying condition and its severity.

In most cases, a retroverted uterus that occurs naturally and not from underlying causes does not prevent conceiving or normal pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Coping

Retroverted uteruses can cause painful symptoms, especially if there are underlying conditions. See a healthcare provider if you are experiencing pelvic pain or other symptoms interfering with your life.

Although a retroverted uterus is not directly linked to infertility, if you are under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for more than one year, or over 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than six months, you should consult a healthcare provider who may need to refer you to a fertility specialist.

Summary

A retroverted uterus is a common and typically harmless condition where the uterus tips backward instead of forward. Although a retroverted uterus is often present at birth, it can result from underlying conditions in which there are pelvic adhesions, scarring, or muscle and ligament weakness.

Symptoms of a retroverted uterus can include menstrual pain, bowel difficulties, problems inserting tampons, and pain during sex. The retroverted uterus usually shows no signs and doesn't require treatment. Having a retroverted uterus typically does not make it more difficult to conceive, carry a pregnancy, or give birth. However, underlying conditions that lead to a retroverted uterus can make it harder to get pregnant.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Mount Sinai. Retroversion of the uterus.
2. University of Florida Health. Retroversion of the uterus.
3. Haylen BT. The retroverted uterus: Ignored to date but core to prolapse. Int Urogynecol J 17, 555–558 (2006). doi:10.1007/s00192-005-0051-0
4. RMA Fertility Clinic. Tilted or retroverted uterus: Is it harder to get pregnant?
5. American Pregnancy Association. Tilted uterus.
6. Complete Care Community Health Center. A useful guide to retroverted uterus.

By Cathy Nelson
Nelson is a freelance writer specializing in health, wellness, and fitness for more than two decades.

over in pain at her desk." width="400" height="250" />

girl on toilet underwear down" width="400" height="250" />

• Meet Our Medical Expert Board
• About Us
• Editorial Process
• Diversity Pledge
• Privacy Policy
• In the News
• Advertise
• Terms of Service
• Careers
• Contact
• EU Privacy

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

We Care About Your Privacy

We and our 100 partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to provide:

Store and/or access information on a device. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners (vendors)