Can You Get Pregnant With an Anteverted Uterus?

The most important organ of the female reproductive system is the uterus. This is the very organ that plays a key role during menstruation and holds the baby when a woman is pregnant. This organ regulates the menstrual cycles, thus ensuring that normal functioning of the body. However, many women may have an anteverted uterus. An anteverted uterus is tilted forward at the cervix and towards the abdomen. Many women think that having an anteverted uterus makes it difficult to conceive. But is that so? 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 commonly occurring issue in women, making them think that they would have complexities in their menstrual cycles and pregnancy. But having an anteverted uterus is perfectly normal and it doesn’t affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant. If you have an anteverted uterus, you may not even know about it.

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 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 prior to or during menstruation
• Foul-smelling discharge during menstrual cycles
• Ovarian pain experienced during ovulation

Can You Get Pregnant With an Anteverted Uterus?

Earlier it was believed that a woman with an anteverted uterus cannot 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.

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

An interesting fact that may leave you surprised 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 a 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 in which they touch and feel the uterus, the pelvic region, the ovaries, and the abdomen, to get an idea 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 is a technological invention that 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.

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 pregnancy problems such as uterine fibroids, uterus polyps, ovarian cysts or even fibroid tumours because of an anteverted uterus. And, this is the very reason that expert consultation is required when 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. There are no treatment options available for an anteverted uterus because no treatment is required.

Although the need for treatment is not a concern, you could do the following in order to ensure a good and healthy life. 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. Slowly and gradually take a deep breath and along with that lift your hips to about an inch above the floor. Maintain this position for about 5 seconds then exhale slowly while coming back to your original comfortable position. Repeat this exercise for about 5 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.

Having an anteverted uterus is common and it does not affect a woman’s fertility or her 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 speak to your doctor about any problem that you may have and follow her instructions. Stay informed, eat healthy, exercise, and lead a healthy life!