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Almost 20-30% of women experience a tilted uterus. Several factors, including genetics, pelvic surgery, endometriosis, and previous pregnancy, might change your uterus's position. However, pregnancy might shift the uterus as it grows. Pregnancy can stretch the supportive ligaments, allowing the uterus to shift forward.
Hence, a retroverted uterus is considered an abnormal position or malposition of the uterus, and pregnancy may be complicated in certain cases.
Can a Tilted Uterus Hide Pregnancy?
A tilted uterus cannot hide a pregnancy. The uterus’s angle doesn't have anything to do with the pregnancy. Though it may delay visible signs, it won't cause any harm. A rare condition known as a retroverted gravity uterus can be a cause of abdominal pain during pregnancy, especially in the early trimester.
A rare complication of having a tilted uterus is uterine incarceration. When a pregnant woman's growing uterus gets trapped behind the sacrum, it can cause severe pelvic, back pain, constipation, and urinary problems.
What is a Hidden Pregnancy
A hidden pregnancy is showing no pregnancy signs or bump, even after a few months of getting pregnant. 1 in 475 pregnant women don't realise they are pregnant, they don't do tests, feel a bump, or get any classic pregnancy symptoms until 20 weeks. 1 in 2599 pregnant women don't realise it until full term, due to high stress, hormonal imbalance, or birth control use.How Does a Retroverted Uterus Affect Fertility?
Uterus position has nothing to do with fertility. However, if the uterus is tilted backwards due to any underlying conditions, it can affect a woman's fertility and make conception harder. - Endometriosis: It is an inflammatory condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain, irritation, and fertility problems. The growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus causes inflammation and scar tissue, essentially glueing the uterus to other pelvic organs and pulling it backwards.
- Adenomyosis: The uterine lining grows into the muscular wall, enlarging the uterus and making it tender. This leads to painful periods, pelvic pain, bloating, and infertility. It is related to endometriosis, causing inflammation and changes in the uterine structure.
- Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths of the uterus growing in or on the uterine wall can physically change the size, shape, and position of the uterus. Large fibroids growing in the back or lower areas of the uterus can push or pull the uterus backwards.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Infection in a woman’s reproductive organs is called PID, often caused by sexually transmitted infections. PID can trigger inflammation, which can damage tissues and lead to scar tissue formation. This scar tissue can glue the uterus to other pelvic organs while pulling the uterus backwards.
- Sperm Transport Issues: A tilted uterus does not directly disturb sperm transportation. Underlying causes like endometriosis, fibroids, and PI can obscure the fallopian tubes and prevent egg and sperm from meeting.
How a Tilted Uterus Can Affect Early Pregnancy Signs
A tilted uterus doesn't delay early pregnancy signs. But you may feel some changes due to the uterus's backward position.- Delay in Baby Bump: In a normal or anteverted uterus, the baby bump starts to come out around 12-16 weeks. In a retroverted uterus, the bump may not show until 16-20 weeks. It's because the growing uterus stays deep into the pelvis towards the spine, instead of growing forward into the abdominal cavity. As a result, the fundus may remain low, and you may not show a bump until 16-20 weeks.
- Reduced Early Pelvic Sensation: Early pregnancy often feels heavy and pressure on the bladder, leading to frequent urination. A tilted uterus doesn't feel the urge to urinate more or feel pressure on the bladder because the uterus might be cushioned by the rectum and sacrum.
- Reduced Pregnancy Symptoms: Early pregnancy symptoms like bloating, heaviness, and cramps may not be noticeable. However, constipation or gas may be prominent in the first trimester. As pregnancy progresses, the uterus shifts and anteverts, triggering classic pregnancy symptoms.
Can a Tilted Uterus Delay Pregnancy Detection?
A retroverted uterus doesn't delay pregnancy detection. Home pregnancy tests detect hCG hormones produced by the developing placenta, which enter your bloodstream and urine, resulting in a positive pregnancy test. You might experience a delay in physical symptoms, but not in detection. During a physical exam in the hospital, the doctor feels your cervix and uterus through the vaginal walls. The tilted uterus can make palpation a bit challenging in the first trimester. But it does not hide growth.
Can Doctors Miss a Pregnancy Because of a Tilted Uterus?
Doctors can't miss a pregnancy due to a tilted uterus. In the first few weeks, the uterus is small and may not show noticeable changes. This can make early detection slightly challenging. Women who don't follow a regular checkup routine may experience delayed detection. Early pregnancy symptoms like mild cramping and bloating may be mistaken for digestive issues, as a tilted uterus shows delayed symptoms.When Pregnancy Can Be Missed
- Irregular Menstrual Cycle: Women with irregular menstrual cycles may not recognise missed periods.
- PCOS: It can cause hormonal imbalances, which may delay diagnosis due to missed early symptoms.
- Recent Childbirth: Early pregnancy in late postpartum may cause delayed pregnancy due to changes in symptoms.
If the uterus is retroverted in a non-pregnant state, the woman may be advised to sleep in a prone position (on the belly) to encourage forward tilting of the uterus and help partially correct its position.
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FAQs on Retroverted Uterus: Can A Tilted Uterus Hide Pregnancy
- Can massage fix a tilted uterus?
Massaging your abdomen helps reposition your tilted uterus. Massage techniques help by releasing ligament tension and improving circulation, allowing the organ to shift and return to its original position. Doing Kegel exercises, pelvic floor therapy strengthens the pelvic muscles. - What are the disadvantages of a tilted uterus?
A tilted or retroverted uterus doesn't cause any harm and typically deposition itself once the belly starts to grow during pregnancy. However, it can cause pain during intercourse, lower back pain, heavy periods, difficulty inserting tampons, and urinary issues. A Tilted Uterus may mask the early pregnancy symptoms.