Everything you need to know about the anteverted uterus

The uterus is the female gynecological organ that allows conception and management of the fetus until birth. Most women have an anteverted uterus.

What is an anteverted uterus?

The uterus is thefemale genital organ. It is in this organ that the fertilization of the ovum takes place, the development of the embryo to a fetus.

The shape of the uterus is an inverted pear shape. The body of the uterus has many blood vessels and is lined with a mucous membrane called the endometrium or uterine mucous membrane, as well as the cervix, which opens into the vagina.

To define its position, two angles must be taken into account:

• Theangle of flexion (the axis is formed with that of the cervix) ;
• And theangle of version (the axis is formed with the pelvic excavation, that is to say the line which is drawn between the navel and the coccyx).

For the majority of women, the uterus is anteverted, i.e. the version angle is in front of the pelvic excavation, i.e. in the horizontal plane. However, there are different forms of uterus bicorn, didelph, etc.

Common form: the anteverted anteflexed uterus

There are also several anatomical variations of the anteverted uterus. Theanteverted anteflexed uterus is the most common form of uterus. This shape is characterized by the fact that the axis of the cervix forms an angle with the axis of the body of the uterus that is open forward.

Some women will have a very anteverted uterus which can cause symptoms such as urinary difficulties during the first trimester of pregnancy. But most of the time, the anteverted uterus does not cause any symptoms.

Rarer form: retroflexed anteverted uterus

The second anatomical variation of the uterus is anteverted retroflexed. This orientation can cause symptoms and pain. It is characterized by the axis of the cervix forming an angle with the axis of the body that is open backwards.

What are the differences with a retroverted uterus?

Finally, the last variation in orientation is theretroverted uterus. This type of uterus is thought to affect about 20 to 30% of women. What does retroverted mean? It means that instead of being tilted forward, it is actually tilted backward. It rests more on the rectum than on the bladder.

This type of orientation can cause symptoms such as pain during sex, painful periods called dysmenorrhea, lower back pain during menstruation, pain during defecation and constipation. But a retroverted uterus can also be asymptomatic. In all cases, it is not a pathology, only a malformation. On the other hand, a retroverted uterus can be the cause of an inflammatory pathology, such as endometriosis, or the sign of the presence of a fibroid.

Rest assured: having a retroverted uterus does not cause complications during pregnancy. In fact, it automatically (or almost automatically) returns to an anterior rotation when you are pregnant. If this is not the case, a health professional will simply perform a manipulation.

The same goes for fertility: there are no consequences to report, nor for the insertion of an IUD. The gynecologist simply needs to be informed for the insertion.

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What are the consequences of the anteverted uterus?

The anteverted anteflexed position is the natural position of the uterus. But, when it is hyper anteverted, it can cause symptoms, such as:

• Urinary difficulties due to urinary retention, which can be found during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Most of the time, it does not cause any symptoms

Before considering it as a cause of pain etc., other potential causes such as endometriosis or vaginal lesions should be ruled out.

Is there a treatment for an anterior uterus?

There is no treatment for an anteverted uterus, it is a completely normal position. However, this does not mean that it is normal to feel any pain, whether during your period, during sex, or at any time during your cycle. It's important to see your doctor if you have symptoms that persist.

How can I find out if my uterus is anteverted?

Only a gynecological examination can tell you if your uterus is anteverted or not. To find out its position, the health professional must perform an ultrasound. Generally, women discover the orientation of their uterus during gynecological examinations such as a post-partum check-up, during the insertion of an IUD, complementary examinations in case of suspicion of pathologies, etc...

The FAQ of the anteverted uterus

Is it serious to have an anteverted uterus?

How to get pregnant with an anteverted uterus?