Retroverted Uterus and Pregnancy
Contents:
- Position of the Uterus
- Causes for a Retroverted Uterus
- Symptoms of a Retroverted Uterus
- Is it Still Possible to Conceive?
- Retroverted Uterus Pregnancy
Retroverted Uterus in Pregnancy
An about one in five women is diagnosed with a retroverted uterus. Every woman with this condition asks the same question: is it still possible to conceive a baby? This is a question that cannot be answered with a 100 % guarantee. Sometimes a retroverted uterus can affect conceiving, and in some cases it can even make it impossible. So what are the specifics of planning a baby with this condition?
Position of the Uterus
Usually the uterus is positioned in the middle of the pelvis. The bottom of the uterus is angled to the lower back, whereas the top is pointing up and towards the abdominal wall. This positioning creates a blunt angle between the body of the uterus and the cervix. Sometimes this angle may be facing backwards, which is called a retroverted uterus. The retroverted uterus.
Causes for a Retroverted Uterus
A retroverted uterus is seldom an innate disease. Usually it develops gradually in the course of a lifetime. It can be caused by a range of different reasons such as heavy physical activity, endometriosis, metritis, oophoritis, gastrointestinal problems, urinary retention in the childhood, constipation etc. The symptoms become evident only when it is a severe case. Another time when the symptoms might appear is when a woman has an inflammation that caused a retroverted uterus.
Symptoms of a Retroverted Uterus
Usually women with a retroverted uterus complain about pain during the intercourse, irregular menstrual cycle, period pain, or urinary disorders. Sometimes periods can become excessively heavy or prolonged. If a woman becomes pregnant, she might have a miscarriage.
During the pelvic examination a doctor will check if the uterus is fixed by trying to move it to the sides. If the uterus is fixed, it won’t move but the woman will experience a painful sensation. This is caused by adhesions that might affect the conceiving and cause infertility. Adhesions can develop not only in the uterus but also in the uterine tubes causing infertility.
Is it Still Possible to Conceive?
If a woman has a slightly retroverted uterus that is just a variation of female anatomy, it won’t cause any problem. In more serious cases with a more evident tilt of the uterus, it can stop semen from getting inside the uterus. In this case, the ejaculated semen will collect in the vagina. If the retroverted uterus is complicated by the adhesions, it can cause the tubes to shrink or even lead to tubal obstruction, which makes conceiving impossible.
Retroverted Uterus Pregnancy
If a woman becomes pregnant despite a retroverted uterus, it is a cause for celebration in itself. Still, future moms who have a retroverted uterus are in danger of a miscarriage early in their pregnancy. A woman should be under a doctor’s constant supervision and in some cases be on bed rest in a hospital.
If the uterus is not fixed, i.e. no adhesions developed to affect it position, it will take the normal position. In order to take that position the uterus still needs some stimulation. Do a knee-chest exercise (holding the position for up to 5 minutes) that will help the uterus return to its normal position. Follow the other pregnancy recommendations.
When the uterus is joined with the bladder or rectum by adhesions, it grows gradually pushing on the rectum and pulling the bladder up. It creates a whole list of problems such as painful urination, difficulty with bowel movements, accumulation of gas etc. It becomes a pressing problem by the 4th month, when the expanding uterus doesn’t fit the pelvic cavity anymore. The future mom feels unwell, gets fatigued, has increasing pulling pains in the lower abdomen and gets constipated.
It’s really important to adjust the diet so that it includes the foods rich in fiber, for example:
- All kinds of bran;
- Legumes;
- Fruits and vegetables.
If the vulva is swollen and purplish-blue in color, that is a sign of cystitis and nephritis, but also a so-called uterine incarceration that can lead to an abortion. This condition requires a surgery that will return the uterus back to its normal position. The operation is simple and done under anesthesia. The bladder should be empty during the surgery, which is done by Foley catheter. This catheter allows constant emptying of the bladder.
The uterus is pushed delicately to the large pelvis along the posterior vaginal vault. Delicate uterine propulsion in the cavity of a large pelvis is performed through the posterior fornix. If unsuccessful, another option is used . The pregnant woman is on her knees, the back lip is held by tongs and the uterus is displaced through the posterior fornix.
When none of the ways solves the problem, the surgical intervention is applied. The abdominal dissection (laparotomy) is performed and through the formed wound the uterus is straightened, bringing it into the abdominal cavity. This operation gives the chance to carry and give birth to a healthy baby.
Bend of the uterus only backwards requires no intervention. In this case, the opening of the cervix may be disrupted, which increases the need for cesarean section. So we have found out that the bend of the cervix during pregnancy has different consequences. As well as ways to eliminate problems arising during pregnancy.