Retroverted uterus

Last revised by Mostafa El-Feky on 21 Oct 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Cuete D, El-Feky M, Baba Y, et al. Retroverted uterus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 02 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23069

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23069

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/23069

rID:

23069

Article created:

20 May 2013, David Cuete

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created David Cuete had no recorded disclosures.

View David Cuete's current disclosures

Last revised:

21 Oct 2021, Mostafa El-Feky ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mostafa El-Feky had no recorded disclosures.

View Mostafa El-Feky's current disclosures

Revisions:

11 times, by 9 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gynaecology

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

retroverted uterus

Synonyms:

Retroversion of the uterus

A retroverted uterus is a normal variation of female pelvic anatomy in which the body of the uterus is tilted backwards (usually leans forward, i.e. anteverted) on itself to match the isthmus of the neck and lower uterine segment. There are variable grades of uterine retroversion.

The retroverted uterus almost never causes symptoms, although it is sometimes associated with dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea. This is thought to be because the retroverted position causes the uterus to approach the rectum and contact the posterior vaginal wall, mobilization of the uterus during sex generates pain (sometimes very severe) especially if the uterus is fixed in that position.

Atypical positioning of the uterus may be caused by:

endometriosis
salpingitis
pressure from a growing tumor

These conditions should be ruled out in a patient with pain or other symptoms.

Treatment and prognosis

Complications

The retroverted uterus may have a higher incidence of threatened abortion, because at the beginning of pregnancy, the uterus has to rotate completely to grow in the abdominal cavity ³.