What is a tilted uterus in a woman? This is a common question. Let's take a closer look at it.
The bend of the uterus is an incorrect location of the organ in the pelvis. Pathology can be both acquired and congenital. In most cases, the bend of the uterus does not require any specific measures and treatment, and after childbirth it goes away on its own. However, in some cases, pathology can become an obstacle to conceiving a child.
The reasons for the bending of the uterus will be considered in this article.
Anatomy
This is the name of the pathology, which is manifested by deviations in the position of the body from its normal axis. In a normal state, from an anatomical point of view, the location of the uterus should form an obtuse angle with respect to the organs of the small pelvis. If the corner is bent, it means the presence of pathology.
Causes of the bend of the uterus can be different, there are both congenital and pathologies acquired with age. Depending on the displaced angle, this pathology has different names: bendbackwards, anteriorly, backwards, kink and retroflexion of the uterus. The posterior kink, displaced towards the rectum, is the most common type and is more common than the anterior fold.
Different uterine positions
Bending the uterine cervix leads to a change in the angle between it and the uterine fundus, which leads to the following situations:
- Bend back or retroflection. An acute angle is formed towards the rectum and spine.
- Anterior bend or hyperanteflexia and anteversion. Is a deep kink.
- Lateroflexion is a turning of the uterus away from the axis towards the ovaries.
Quite often in medical practice there is retroflexion of the uterus. Bends backwards, anteriorly, or to the sides can appear for various reasons during life. In the presence of adhesions, the following types of bend are distinguished:
- Fixed, usually occurs in women who have had pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Partly movable or movable. It develops against the background of a sharp weight loss, childbirth, prolonged illness and bed rest, decreased uterine tone, atrophy (typical for women in old age).
Bending as a pathology that needs to be treated is perceived only in case of deviation backwards and to the sides. Anterior deviation is not considered a pathology.
So, what are the causes of a tilted uterus?
Causes and complications
Deformation of the uterus, as mentioned above, is acquired and congenital. At the same time, the congenital form of pathologyIt is found most often during an examination by a gynecologist. A bend in the uterus can develop in the prenatal period if a woman has had a cold of an infectious nature at the time when the organs of the reproductive system in the fetus were forming, that is, in the first trimester.
Congenital bending of the uterus can disappear naturally after childbirth, therefore, having heard such a diagnosis, parents should not panic. In this case, pathology is an individual feature of a particular organism.
The position of the uterus may also change if it is affected by nearby abdominal organs. The body of the uterus at the same time has the ability to bend and bend. In nulliparous girls, gynecologists often observe posterior deviation of the uterus. During pregnancy, the uterine fold straightens.
If retroflexion is acquired, then the doctor should study all the adverse factors that could lead to this phenomenon. The most common causes of a tilted uterus are:
- Individual anatomical features.
- Failure in the hormonal background.
- Adhesion and scarring from surgery.
- Injuries to the abdominal organs, as well as obstetric consequences of childbirth and frequent abortions.
- Staying chronically stressed.
- Sudden weight loss as a result of poor nutrition or excessive exercise.
- Inflammatory processes and infectious diseases,such as endometriosis, as well as oncological neoplasms.
- Reduced tone of the abdominal muscles.
- Underdevelopment of the female reproductive system.
Bends also occur as a result of a prolonged inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system, as well as the lack of timely treatment. Quite often, the disease occurs due to the presence of adhesions after surgery.
Causes and consequences of a tilted uterus are often interrelated.
Symptomatics
As such, there are no direct signs indicating the presence of pathology. In some cases, a woman may complain about the following points:
- Irregular and painful periods. Especially common in adolescence.
- White discharge of unknown origin between periods.
- Discomfort and soreness during intercourse.
- Inability to conceive.
- Painful urination.
- Frequent intestinal disorders on the background of normal nutrition.
All of these symptoms of a tilted uterus indirectly signal the presence of a retroversion and suggest a medical examination by a gynecologist. If the bending of the uterus leads to discomfort in everyday life, then the specialist prescribes appropriate treatment, including procedures aimed at relieving unpleasant symptoms.
In the vast majority of cases, however, uterine inversion is not felt by women and does not affect their quality of life. Pathology does not cause discomfortduring sexual contact and can only be manifested by pulling sensations in the lower abdomen, most often taken by a woman for premenstrual syndrome. However, such a symptom requires an appeal to a gynecologist, which will help to avoid unpleasant consequences in the future. For example, to complicate the conception of a child when the uterus is bent.
Infertility
The main danger that pathology poses to a woman is the inability to conceive a child, that is, infertility. Also, the bend can lead to the omission of the walls of the uterus, which will cause it to fall out or, in the worst case, amputation.
Treatment of a tilted uterus should be timely.
Diagnosis
Retroflection of the uterus is detected using a minimum number of diagnostic methods. In addition to a gynecological examination using the bimanual method, which reveals the presence of pathology and the degree of deviation from the norm, ultrasound is also performed when the uterus is bent, which allows you to determine the presence of a cicatricial or adhesive process that has arisen after surgical operations and inflammation.
Treatment
Treatment is carried out only in cases where the pathology interferes with the process of conception. To do this, it is necessary to accurately establish using laboratory and instrumental methods that it is the bending of the uterus that prevents the process of conception. As mentioned above, forward bending is not considered a deviation from the norm and does not need treatment. The backward bend is treated according to age, individual characteristics, and also if it was caused by adhesions. At the same time, they usethe following therapeutic methods:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These can be sulfanilamide and antibacterial drugs that eliminate harmful microorganisms.
- Vitamin and hormone therapy. Designed to keep the body in good shape.
- Physiotherapy treatment. Includes electrotherapy, exercise therapy, mud therapy, gynecological massage, etc.
Recommendations
In addition to physiotherapy and drug therapy, the following is recommended for prophylactic uterine tilt:
- Alternation of work and rest, as well as positive emotions.
- Intimate muscle training, for example using the Kegel technique.
- Reducing the intensity of physical activity on the lower body, refusal to lift heavy objects.
- Timely urination and defecation will help prevent the appearance of a bend.
- Performing special gymnastics. It will also be useful to do oriental dancing or Pilates.
Operation
Surgical intervention may be required when the pathology was caused by oncological neoplasms or adhesions in the pelvic organs. Along with the elimination of the tumor, the position of the uterus is leveled, and adhesions and inflammations are removed. Laparoscopic methods are also used.
Some gynecologists suggest that patients wear a special gynecological ring called a pessary to correct the bend. This device is a plastic ring,which is inserted into the vagina. It is often used to prevent preterm labor.
Tilting uterus and pregnancy
The possibility of pregnancy is the main issue in women with a similar pathology. At the stage of confirming the diagnosis, it is necessary to find out whether the anatomical pathology really affects the passage of spermatozoa to the egg.
When planning a pregnancy, a woman needs to take all the necessary measures, otherwise the bending of the uterus can cause spontaneous abortion and other complications. Of great importance at conception with a bend of the uterus is the chosen sexual position. For example, when the uterus is bent backwards, the couple should choose a knee-elbow position or on the stomach with a raised pelvis. The uterus in these positions is in a normal position, which contributes to conception.
In addition, it is important to have sex on ovulation days after a few days of abstinence. This releases more sperm than during regular intimate relationships.
Tilting the uterus and pregnancy is a sore point for many women.
After intercourse, experts recommend lying down quietly for a while or doing the birch exercise, lifting your legs up. It should be borne in mind that if the bend is right-sided, then the position for sexual intercourse should be chosen on the right side.
Thus, the bend itself is not dangerous for a woman. It is worth worrying if pregnancy does not occur for a long time. Under other circumstances, this diagnosis does not affectwoman's condition. Many women who have already given birth do not even suspect that they have this pathology. Twisting of the uterus and childbirth are not connected in any way.
Prevention
To avoid the development of pathologies in the female reproductive system, it is necessary to carefully monitor the nature and period of menstruation even in adolescence. If menstruation is very painful, then it is necessary to consult a gynecologist for advice. A similar symptom may indicate a kink in the uterus, where the kink interferes with normal blood flow.
Women who want to conceive a child need to follow a lifestyle, give up bad habits, exercise moderately, eat right, take vitamins several times a year, and avoid stressful situations. Power loads in sports are undesirable.
When the bend is cured, you must be attentive to your own he alth, exclude heavy physical exertion and emotional shaking. It is advisable to undergo sanatorium treatment once a year and be regularly examined by a gynecologist.
We looked at the causes and consequences of a tilted uterus.
