Causes of Retroverted Uterus
May 06, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lianlian
Introduction
Causes of retroverted uterus:
- Inflammation, which may lead to adhesions between the uterus and rectal tissues, pulling the uterus backward;
- Congenital uterine hypoplasia resulting in ligamentous laxity;
- Sleeping posture—prolonged supine sleeping may cause gradual posterior tilting of the uterus due to gravitational effects;
- Induced abortion, which inflicts significant physical trauma on women; inadequate post-abortion care.
Uterine retroversion is a relatively common clinical finding, wherein the longitudinal axis of the uterus remains unchanged while the entire uterus tilts backward—termed “uterine retroflexion.” This positioning often causes the cervix to tilt upward, making it less likely to be immersed in the seminal pool within the vagina, potentially impairing conception.
The main contributing factors to uterine retroversion include the following:
1. Inflammation: Gynecological infections (e.g., endometritis or salpingo-oophoritis) may lead to adhesions between the uterus and adjacent structures such as the rectum, thereby pulling the uterus posteriorly.
2. Congenital uterine hypoplasia: Some women are born with underdeveloped uteri; this is often associated with inherently laxer uterine ligaments, predisposing the uterus to positional shifts—including retroversion—in various directions.
3. Sleep posture: Prolonged supine sleeping may, due to gravitational forces, gradually encourage uterine retroversion. In many cases, simply modifying sleep posture can facilitate gradual correction.
4. Effects of induced abortion: Induced abortion imposes significant physical stress on the female reproductive system. Repeated abortions or inadequate post-abortion care increase the risk of developing uterine retroversion.
