Retroflexia of the uterus: causes, symptoms and treatment

Retroflexia of the uterus is an atypical bending of the uterus posterior, occurring in about 20% of women. This arrangement of the organ is a pathology, but it does not always require treatment, it does not have the characteristic clinical manifestations, but concomitant pains, vaginal discharge, disturbances in the functions of adjacent organs and menstrual function may be involved. In some cases, the retroflexia of the uterus, whose photo is on the pages of medical manuals, can lead to infertility and miscarriage.

Uterus: normal location

Normally the uterus is located in the center of the small pelvis, in the cavity between the bladder and colon. At the same time, its bottom is turned upwards and anteriorly, and the cervix is turned downwards and anteriorly. Uterus in this position is very mobile, its position can freely vary depending on the filling of surrounding organs. Tonus, ligaments and muscles, abdominal press and pelvic floor ensure its normal position.

Under the influence of various causes, the uterus may deviate posteriorly, changing the proportions between the pelvic organs. As a consequence of this arrangement, a stretched ligamentous apparatus becomes attached to it, which causes displacement and loss of internal genital organs.

Types of bending of the uterus

There are several types of retroflection:

- Movable, resulting from a decrease in the tone of the myometrium or stretching of muscles or ligaments. Uterus bends backwards, without losing mobility.

- Fixed retroflection is a fully or partially immobile organ with respect to neighboring ones.

Causes of bending

The moving retroflexia of the uterus can arise because of:

- Sharp weight loss;

- prolonged bed rest;

- irrational diet;

- weakness of the myometrium and weakening of the ligament of the uterus;

- birth injuries, postpartum infection;

- hard work;

- Frequent abortions.

The appearance of a fixed retroflection can result in:

- adnexitis - inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes;

- Palvioperitonitis - inflammation in any part of the pelvic peritoneum;

- endometritis - an inflammatory process that takes place in the internal mucosa of the uterus;

- Endometriosis - pathological proliferation of glandular tissue of the uterus beyond its limits.

Any kind of retroflection can arise due to:

- prolonged lactation;

- inflammation of the rectum;

- frequent constipation;

- congenital features of the uterus;

- heavy childbirth;

- tumors of the pelvic organs;

- accumulation of blood in the space between the bladder and the vagina.

Symptomatic of the disease

The moving retroflexia of the uterus often passes asymptomatically and is accidentally detected by gynecological examination. Fixed bending is accompanied by complaints of the patient to:

- irregular or profuse menstrual bleeding;

- painful sensations and heaviness in the lower abdomen and in the region of the sacrum;

Pain during intercourse;

- frequent urge to urinate;

- constipation if the intestinal loops are squashed.

Retroflexia of the uterus during pregnancy can lead to the threat of interruption or result in spontaneous abortion. However, timely detection of the problem and adequate therapy will help to overcome difficulties in conceiving or bearing and prevent future problems.

Pregnancy and retroflexia

Retroflexia of the uterus and pregnancy are far from mutually exclusive concepts. Difficulties, of course, can arise, but you can get pregnant, moreover, in some cases it is this condition that allows the uterus to take the right position. It should also be noted that not the bend provokes the problem, although it is more difficult for spermatozoa to reach the place where the egg is fertilized, and the disease that led to retroflection. So, after consulting a doctor, you should get rid of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, or if you find the adhesions, take courses of physiotherapy, enzyme therapy, mud therapy, gynecological massage.

An important role in the bending of the cervix in the case of a desire to become pregnant is played by the posture during sexual intercourse. Classical posture, when a man from above, is not suitable for conception with such a pathology. The best poses will be:

- a man on top of a woman who lies on her stomach with a pillow under her hips;

- knee-elbow position.

It is in such positions that the uterus takes the most close to the natural position, and the spermatozoa get more free access to the eggs. After the end of sexual intercourse, it is recommended not to jump at once, but lie down for half an hour on the stomach. It is also recommended lying on your back to lift your legs up, supporting yourself by the side. Fix in this position for 5-10 minutes.

Moving retroflection definitely will not become an obstacle to conception. Such a diagnosis can be completely removed during pregnancy, because a growing and heavy fetus, as well as amniotic fluid by its pressure, help to straighten the uterus. Pregnancy often develops normally, but the doctor's control will be necessary right up to the birth of the child.

How to diagnose cervical bend

The retroflexia is easily diagnosed - when viewed on a gynecological chair by means of a bimanual examination, in which the fingers of one hand of the gynecologist are in the vagina, and the second one probes the uterus through the abdominal wall. This method of examination will help to establish and type of pathology. You can also use ultrasound or CT scan if there are suspicions of inflammation or tumors.

Healing measures

Retroflexia of the uterus, whose treatment is prescribed and chosen exclusively by a gynecologist, is a treatable pathology. Therapy is often aimed at eliminating the causes that led to the bend.

The treatment of mobile retroflection consists in the manual insertion of the organ. After this, a course of therapeutic physical training, gynecological massage or the use of special pessaries is prescribed. It is forbidden after the therapy to lift or carry weights.

For the treatment of diseases leading to the emergence of fixed retroflection, such as adhesions, inflammatory processes or endometriosis, the following are used:

- Electrophoresis or ultraphonophoresis;

- Acupuncture;

- Mud treatment;

- Fibrinolytic or anti-inflammatory drugs;

- vitamin and mineral complex;

- drugs that normalize the overall hormonal background.

If adhesions are not amenable to medical or physiotherapeutic treatment, surgery can be performed, implying excision of adhesions. After this, the woman is also assigned to wear pessaries and is not allowed to deal with the weights.

Retroflexia of the uterus is a disease that develops for various reasons and often proceeds asymptomatically. Diagnosing pathology is not difficult, but it should be treated in a comprehensive way, correcting the position of the organ and eliminating the causes that originally led to the bend.