Anteverted Uterus & Pregnancy – Is It Normal?

The most important organ of the female reproductive system is the uterus. This organ plays a key role during menstruation and holds the baby when a woman is pregnant. In addition, this organ regulates the menstrual cycles, thus ensuring the normal functioning of the body. However, many women may have an anteverted uterus.

An anteverted uterus is normal, occurring in almost 75% of women. It denotes a forward tilt of the uterus toward the bladder. The amount that the uterus leans forward varies from person to person. It is neither an abnormality nor a medical condition and does not affect the uterus’s physical structure. A woman’s health or ability to reproduce is unaffected by an anteverted uterus.

A natural variance, similar to having a specific eye colour, is having an anteverted uterus. The uterus of a person can also lean backward. The term for this less frequent condition is a retroverted uterus. Many women think that having an anteverted uterus makes it difficult to conceive. But if that is so, let’s find out!

What Is an Anteverted Uterus?

When the uterus is tilted towards the front of the abdomen, it is known as an anteverted uterus. There are two abnormal positions of the uterus. One is anteverted, and the other is retroverted. The uterus is said to be retroverted when it is tilted backwards. Talking specifically about the anteverted uterus, a tilted forward uterus implies that the uterus gets dislocated towards the bladder. This is a common issue in women, making them think they would have complexities in their menstrual cycles and pregnancy. But having an anteverted uterus is perfectly normal and doesn’t affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant. You may not even know if you have an anteverted uterus.

Causes of Anteverted Uterus

There are many reasons why women may have an anteverted uterus. Sometimes, having scars from a surgery performed in the past may make the uterus tilt. The uterus may even tilt forward because of endometriosis. This is a condition where the tissues are layering the inside of the uterus develop on the outside.

Symptoms of Anteverted Uterus

There are no clear symptoms of an anteverted uterus. Chances are, you won’t even know that you have an anteverted uterus. However, in some rare cases, where the condition is severe, and the uterus is tilted way too much, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain during menstrual cycles
• Constant back pain during menstruation
• Constipation before or during menstruation
• Foul-smelling discharge during menstrual cycles
• Ovarian pain experienced during ovulation

Can You Get Pregnant With an Anteverted Uterus?

It was believed that a woman with an anteverted uterus could not get pregnant. However, recent advancements suggest otherwise. The tilting of the uterus is nowhere related to a woman’s fertility. This is because the passage the sperm covers through the uterus and the further process of fertilization has no connection with the orientation of the uterus.

If a woman is pregnant and the uterus tilt is beyond a specific limit, she may experience discomfort and pain while emptying her bladder. If a pregnant woman has an anteverted uterus, she must visit a gynaecologist to experience severe back pain or irritations in the abdominal region.

An interesting fact that may surprise you is that when a woman with an anteverted uterus is pregnant, her baby bump becomes visible sooner than expected. It could be visible even before she completes her 12 weeks into pregnancy.

How Is an Anteverted Uterus Diagnosed?

An anteverted uterus can be diagnosed using the following two methods:

• Pelvic Exam: This method is used by experienced doctors to touch and feel the uterus, the pelvic region, the ovaries, and the abdomen, to get an idea of whether the uterus is tilted or not. Based on the doctor’s intuition, she may further ask the woman to go for an ultrasound.

• Ultrasound: This technological invention involves using sound waves to create sonogram images of the abdomen on the screen. This way, the doctor analyses the images on the screen to know whether the uterus is tilted or not.

How Can You Get Pregnant Faster With Anteverted Uterus?

A woman with an anteverted uterus must always get a uterine examination or an early pregnancy check-up. These will give you an accurate view of the anteverted uterus’ condition and any problems it might cause.

You’ll learn how to get pregnant rapidly, understand the best position for the anteverted uterus to conceive and gain advantages from the process while pregnant.

Impact of an Anteverted Uterus on Pregnancy

It is known that the forward tilt of the uterus neither affects a woman’s ability to get pregnant nor does it create any problems in delivery (though it has been found that some natural processes that ought to occur inside the uterus get affected). Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult a gynaecologist even if there are no severe complications.

Also, there are certain rare cases where a pregnant woman may develop problems such as uterine fibroids, uterus polyps, ovarian cysts or even fibroid tumours because of an anteverted uterus. And this is why expert consultation is required in the initial stages of pregnancy.

Can You Have Sex If You Have an Anteverted Uterus?

Having an anteverted uterus will not affect your sexual health or sexual life. So, yes, you can have sex with an anteverted uterus if you want to get pregnant or otherwise.

Treatment Options for an Anteverted Uterus

An anteverted uterus is not a health problem and requires no treatment. No treatment options are available for an anteverted uterus because no treatment is required.

Although the need for treatment is not a concern, you could do the following to ensure a good and healthy life. However, the exercises mentioned below may not work for all women, and the results can’t be assured; hence one must try these only after consulting with a doctor.

• Relax the Pelvis: Lie flat on a mat with your back on the floor and arms by your side. Then, slowly and gradually, take a deep breath and lift your hips to about an inch above the floor. Maintain this position for about 5 seconds, then exhale slowly while returning to your original comfortable position. Repeat this exercise about five more times.

• Knee to Chest Exercise: Lie flat on a mat with your back on the floor and knees bent. Slowly lift one of your knees and bring it close to the chest with the help of both your hands. Maintain this position for about 10-15 seconds and release your foot back to its bent position. Repeat the same process with the other knee.

When to See Doctor?

 In contrast to other uterine postures like a prolapsed uterus, an anteverted uterus is nothing to be concerned about. In the prolapsed uterus, the pelvic floor’s muscles and ligaments deteriorate, and the uterus might slip down or protrude out of the vagina.

Always seek medical attention if you have irregularities during your cycle or menstruation. For example, It’s probably time for a check-up if you suffer unusual bleeding in between periods, unusual discharge, itchiness, soreness, or the feeling that something could be “wrong”.

Starting in their early adolescent years, women should begin seeing a gynecologist once a year, even if everything appears to be in order. Annual check-ups can detect and cure problems that could later influence fertility and any anomalies in the location of the uterus.

Having an anteverted uterus is common and does not affect a woman’s fertility or ability to get pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant for long, get your uterus examined. In case of any doubt or confusion, consulting a gynaecologist is the best bet. So please speak to your doctor about any problem you may have and follow her instructions. Stay informed, eat healthy, exercise, and lead a healthy life!

Also Read: Bicornuate (Heart Shaped) Uterus