Few women have ever given more than a couple of seconds’ thought about their uterus. That is, of course, until they start trying to conceive. Statistically, about one in five women will discover that they have a retroverted uterus. Sometimes, women become so overwhelmed with this news that rather than asking further questions, they simply surrender the idea of ever getting pregnant. If you happen to be that one in five with a retroverted uterus, rest assured that not all hope is lost. With the proper help of an informed and skilled physician, you can successfully conceive and carry to full term. 

Retroversion of the uterus is a backwards tilt of the uterus so that it points towards the spine, instead of the more common orientation of pointing slightly forward, toward the belly. However, it is far from being a disease. Dr. Dora Barrion-Dimarucut, MD, FPOGS, from the Medical Center Imus, Cavite states, “Retroversion, in fact, accounts for about 20% of uterine orientation, and is not considered abnormal.” If a woman’s uterus is naturally tilted backwards, it’s essentially like being born left-handed instead of right-handed - despite using a different hand, you are still perfectly capable of writing. Occasionally, the uterus can become retroverted due to scarring from endometriosis, fibroids, or other previous infections. If this is the case, then it’s important to treat the causes of the retroversion first.

According to Dr. Dimarucut, if it is the result of an organic cause like endometriosis, it may make chances of pregnancy more difficult, not because of retroversion itself, but because of the endometriosis causing changes in the normal reproductive anatomy, hampering sperm and egg transport. In terms of ability to conceive, Dr. Dimarucut points out, “The chances of conceiving are about the same as a [normal] anteverted uterus, on the premise that there are no other organic causes of the retroversion.

During sexual intercourse, especially as the female reaches orgasm, the cervix and its canal straighten to accommodate and facilitate easier entry of the sperm. So, even with retroversion, conception is very possible. A change in the tilt is significant only if, even during intercourse, the cervical canal does not straighten to accommodate the sperm, or makes it impossible for the sperm to enter.”