Your uterus is a reproductive organ that plays a key role during menstruation and holds a baby during pregnancy. If your doctor tells you have you an anteverted uterus, it means that your uterus tilts forward at your cervix, toward your abdomen. Most women have this type of uterus.
A uterus that tips backward at your cervix is known as a retroverted uterus. This condition is usually considered more serious than an anteverted uterus.
Like other parts of your body, your uterus can come in many different shapes or sizes. An anteverted uterus shouldn’t affect your health, and you might not even know your uterus is shaped this way.
Read on to learn more about what causes an anteverted uterus and how it’s diagnosed.
Most of the time, you won’t notice any symptoms of an anteverted uterus.
If the tilt is extremely severe, you might feel pressure or pain in the front of your pelvis. Tell your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Does an anteverted uterus affect fertility and pregnancy?
Doctors used to think that the shape or tilt of your uterus could affect your ability to get pregnant. Today, they know that the position of your uterus doesn’t usually impact sperm’s ability to reach an egg. In rare cases, an extremely tilted uterus may interfere with this process.
Does an anteverted uterus affect sex?
An anteverted uterus won’t affect your sex life. You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort during sex. But if you do, tell your doctor.
Many women are born with an anteverted uterus. It’s just the way their uterus formed.
In certain cases, pregnancy and childbirth can change the shape of your uterus, which may cause it to become more anteverted.
Rarely, an extreme tilt can happen when scar tissues develops because of a past surgery or a condition known as endometriosis. In endometriosis, tissue that lines your uterus grows on the outside of the organ. One study found women who have a cesarean delivery may be more likely to develop a tilt in their uterus.
Your doctor might perform a pelvic exam, an ultrasound, or both to determine if your uterus tilts forward.
An ultrasound, or sonogram, involves using high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of your body.
During a pelvic exam, your doctor might look at and feel your vagina, ovaries, cervix, uterus, and abdomen to check for any abnormalities.
You won’t need treatment for an anteverted uterus. There aren’t any medicines or procedures designed to correct this condition. You should be able to live a normal, pain-free life if you have an anteverted uterus.
If your uterus is retroverted, you might need surgery to fix it.
An anteverted uterus is considered normal. It means your uterus has a tilt to it. This common condition shouldn’t affect your sex life, your ability to get pregnant, or your overall health. There’s no need to worry about having an anteverted uterus, but talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.