Your healthcare provider can tell if you have a retroverted uterus by doing a pelvic exam. During this exam, your healthcare provider can feel the location of your cervix and uterus to determine which way it tilts. Sometimes an ultrasound is used to confirm a retroverted uterus and rule out more serious causes like uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
How do you treat a retroverted uterus?
Your healthcare provider may recommend the following treatment options:
- Treating the underlying condition: If you have an underlying cause of a retroverted uterus, treating that condition could help improve your symptoms.
- Exercises: Some healthcare providers have experience manually shifting the uterus into a forward position. If this happens, performing exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles can help keep your uterus in that position. Ask your healthcare provider if performing exercises like Kegels can help you improve your condition. To do Kegel exercises, tighten your pelvic muscles as if you are trying to hold back urine. Hold the muscles tight for a few seconds and then release. Exercises won’t help if your retroverted uterus is caused by scarring and it may move back to its retroverted position.
- Pessary: A pessary is a small, plastic donut-shaped device that’s inserted into your vagina. It acts as a support structure, helping to hold things in place in your vagina. It can help prop your uterus up to an anteverted position. There are some risks to pessaries, like infection and inflammation, so healthcare providers may recommend it as a short-term solution.
- Surgery: Your healthcare provider can surgically reposition your uterus to a forward-facing position. This surgery is called uterine suspension or uterine repositioning. This can permanently fix a tilted uterus and provide pain relief. In severe cases, a hysterectomy (removal of your uterus entirely) can be considered.