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Retroverse uterus: what is it, causes and symptoms

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on
Retroverse uterus

The retroverted uterus, also called uterine retroversion, is a variant of the female anatomy. As in most women, the uterus is tilted back rather than forward and supported by the bladder. Almost 30% of women have a retroverted uterus. Women with a retroverted uterus may experience severe pain during or in the days leading to menstruation and sexual intercourse. However, most women with a retroverted uterus have no symptoms. This FastlyHealarticle explains the retroverted uterus and its causes and symptoms.

Causes of the retroverted uterus

The retroverted uterus or retroversion is divided into three degrees depending on how tilted back the fundus of the uterus is. This will be determined by the doctor doing a palpation inspection and using an ultrasound:

  • Grade I: there is a slight inclination. The uterus is almost vertical.
  • Grade II: the fundus of the uterus is tilted back, but it is still holding a little high. It does not reach the cervix.
  • Grade III: the fundus of the uterus can be touched below the level of the cervix.

Among the causes of the retrovirus uterus, we can find several divided into primary ones, which means that women have them from birth or due to natural reasons, and secondary causes, which means that there is a disease that causes the uterus to go away. Backward as a side effect.

Primary causes

  1. Uterine hypoplasia: The uterus is small and has not developed well. It is also called the “infantile womb.”
  2. Round ligament relaxation: the ligaments hold the uterus in place. When they relax or are very lax, they can cause the uterus to roll back.
  3. Deep pouch of Douglas: the pouch of Douglas is the space that forms between the rectum and the uterus. If it is profound, the uterus loses support and can fall backward.

Secondary causes

  1. Tumors: lumps such as fibroids take up a lot of space inside the uterus, and in an attempt to accommodate themselves, they may tilt backward, or tumors of the adnexa (fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc.) may pull the uterus back
  2. Pelvic inflammatory disease: this is a condition that occurs when there is an extensive infection in the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. It can happen after childbirth or due to an unattended genital infection, and pelvic inflammatory disease can make abscesses that are sacs filled with pus. These abscesses make weight backward, which causes the uterus to deviate. Also, when healing, these sacs leave small ligaments in what was previously its walls. These are called adhesions or flanges and pull the structures from which are supported. If these adhesions are between the uterus and some system behind it, it will cause the uterus to remain tilted back.
  3. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a disease in which a lot of tissue is formed that lines the womb, called the endometrium, only that being so much it can be implanted in other sites, such as the ovaries, the back of the uterus, or even other organs, in addition to being very painful and cause some degree of infertility, may cause the uterus to tilt back
  4. Adhesion or scarring sequelae of pelvic surgery: it is possible that when doing some surgery on the pelvis for another cause, scars may be left in the form of adhesions or flanges. These small ligaments can stick to the back of the uterus and prevent it from tipping forward.
  5. Allen Master syndrome: This syndrome appears after a difficult delivery. During childbirth, the broad ligament of the uterus, which is responsible for holding it in place, can rupture and includes retroverted uterus, pelvic varicose veins, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and inability to move the cervix when does gynecological examination.

Causes of the retroverted uterus

Retroverted uterus diagnosis

The doctor in the consultation makes the diagnosis of the retroverted uterus, and it may be that he is going to look for the possible retroversion due to suspicion of the symptoms or, simply, that it is in a routine consultation, the doctor will find:

  • Complex examination because the cervix cannot be moved.
  • The deviation can be palpated on vaginal examination.
  • The hystero meter (meter rule type for the uterus) deviates according to the orientation of the uterus.
  • You can see the deviation by ultrasound laparoscopy.

Once the retrovirus uterus has been found, the doctor will seek its cause to formulate a treatment.

Retroverse uterus: symptoms

We have already commented that the retroverted uterus can give some symptoms such as:

  • Pain in menstruation or before it.
  • Pain during intercourse.
  • Irritation of the bladder or rectum from close contact.
  • Venous disorders in the legs.
  • Liver and bile duct disorders.
  • Psycho-affective disorders due to the constant pain.
  • It has been mistakenly associated with sterility-infertility. The retroverted uterus does not cause sterility. It is usually caused by the disease that causes the uterus to tilt backward.
  • Uterine incarceration, in this complication, the uterus becomes trapped between the pelvis near the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.

Each treatment must be decided between patient and physician to achieve the best quality of life for the patient.

Retroverted uterus diagnosis

Treatment of the retroverted uterus

The treatment of the retroverted uterus is made according to the exact cause if it is secondary to a problem and if the primary reason is usually not treated.

In Allen Master syndrome, the varicose veins are ligated, and the torn ligament is sutured.

If the retroverted uterus must be treated, surgery can be done to fix the ligaments or tighten them and thus achieve that they keep the uterus in place. The cul-de-sac of Douglas can be reduced if it is too deep and is causing the retroversion.


If you want to read more articles similar to Retroverse uterus: what it is, causes and symptoms, we recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.

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