Retroverted uterus

Mich1724

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to this site, spend most time lurking, but never actually posting.

Background:

I'm 25 and my DH is 26, been TTC for 22 months, have had normal semen analysis, normal hysterosalpingogram, and normal blood work for hormone levels.

I had been diagnosed with unexplained infertility in which my RE has wanted to move straight to Clomid, try five cycles, and if nothing, head towards IUI (which is a 1-year wait at this moment). After a long discussion, my DH and I decided that since I ovulate every month that I didn't want to use a "superovulation" drug if there is no reason for it based on all my normal results.

 I moved on to 6 months of acupuncture treatment which my SIL who practices acupuncture swore by helping in getting women pregnant and it seemed that there were many stories of women who had not gotten their periods for 2 years would magically get their period within one month of treatment and pregnant on the second month.

 While acupuncture lengthened my luteal phase, halted my spotting before AF, and created less cramps at menses, it was financially becoming too much and DH and I decided after temping for 15 months that I needed a break.

 My GP had explained to me that since my uterus is retroverted (only 20% of women have apparently), my cervical opening lies near the front of my vagina rather then at the back and that I need to have intercourse lying on my stomach or else the semen will pool at the back of the vagina. I explained to her that we tried all many different positions so that it was bound to have worked at some point. After doing some Googling, I found that if all other tests come back normal, that having a retroverted uterus could possibly be a cause of infertility. My aunt 25 years ago was told that she would never be able to have kids because of her "tilted" uterus and then she went on to have three.

 I'm just wondering if anyone else who may have a retroverted uterus was told anything about how it may have an impact on conceiving. (I think at this point I'm looking for something that is the culprit so that it can be fixed because having every test come back normal and still not being able to conceive is much worse).

 Thank you for any info ladies!!!

STL34

I suppose it could make things a little more difficult.  But, I have a tilted uterus and a tortuous (twisted) cervix and those are not considered to be causes of our IF.  We have a lot of other things causing that.  My OB and two REs have said that it isn't a problem.

That being said, if you believe that your retroverted cervix is the problem, then you could do IUI.  That would bypass issues with sperm getting into the ute.  Good luck!

jesselayne8

I have an antiverted uterus and the RE doesnot think it causes IF. Like STL said doing IUI would bypass the cervix and vagina if that were the only problem. Good luck.

Mich1724

 Thanks for your comments ladies. I'm thinking that since it has not happened yet, that attempting IUI might be our next best route to take.  Jesselayne- My RE told me that anteverted uterus is the norm, accounting for 80% of women.

 Here is a link to a pic I found showing how very different ante/retro are:

 https://www.primehealthchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Retroverted-Uterus-images.jpg

STL34

Mich1724:

 Thanks for your comments ladies. I'm thinking that since it has not happened yet, that attempting IUI might be our next best route to take.  Jesselayne- My RE told me that anteverted uterus is the norm, accounting for 80% of women.

 Here is a link to a pic I found showing how very different ante/retro are:

 https://www.primehealthchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Retroverted-Uterus-images.jpg

Mine is tilted to the left.  It is not retroverted.  That being said, my RE compared it to being retroverted and said they don't see it as a cause for IF.  It can, however, be a sign of underlying problems.  I know my uterus has been tilted since I first started seeing an OB when I was a teenager.  So, mine is just that way.  If your retroversion is new, they should check you for fibroids, endo or one of the other underlying conditions that can cause IF and can cause your ute to move. 

Anyway there are a large number of ladies that just have unexplained IF. 

Mich1724

I'm not sure if mine is new or not, since it was never mentioned to me until I had started having trouble to conceive but I was told that it was hereditary. My mom said hers was retroverted but then "normalized" after pregnancy. I have been checked for any other underlying conditions that you have mentioned and everything has come back completely normal.

 Yes, it really is unremarkable how many women there are out there with unexplained infertility. I work in the healthcare industy and in the last year especially I have noticed more and more cases than in the last 5 years of unexplained IF, but also maybe now I'm just noticing them because I share a connection to them.

Debra4869

My OB told me a year ago that I had a tilted uterus and that it was not a problem at all, she likened it to being left handed. Basically a normal anatomical variation.

After TTC for six months, I had a gut feeling something was wrong and went to the RE. Turns out, I have a septum in my uterus and am having surgery in 1 month to correct it. This was found on an HSG and 3D ultrasound. So, the poster earlier is correct. It does not cause IF, but can be part of an underlying issue. That said, it sounds like all your tests came out normal, so it does not sounds like this is your case.

Also, don't just not go on Clomid becuase you already ovulate. My RE explained it has a lot of other benefits, like regulating your cycle and fixing luteal phase defects. Sounds like you have been trying for awhile so it might be worth it. After my surgery, we're moving onto clomid. I'm hopeful. Just my two cents.

Mich1724

When I was spotting 8 to 9 dpo with only a 10-day luteal phase, my RE thought that I perhaps had a luteal phase defect but when we did the progesterone blood test the next month it was completely normal. It just so happened that that particular month I ovulated on day 15 and had a luteal phase of 12 days with no spotting so I think it was a bad month to check for a progesterone deficiency. That being said, he believed that I would need to be on a progesterone supplement once I conceived to sustain the pregnancy.

I filled out the Clomid prescription but of course my in-laws had their own opinions and said not to do drugs if nothing was proven to be wrong. That's when I started acupuncture treatment and was diagnosed in acupuncture terms to have a kidney blood deficiency based on my cold hands and feet, frequent nighttime urination, and aversion to salty foods. I was told that my yin and yang were out of balance and after my first session, that month I ovulated on day 14 and had a luteal phase of 14 days and had no spotting. The same occurred for the next 5 months of treatment as well.

My acupuncturist is very against western medicine and says that physicians are affiliated so closely with pharmaceutical companies that they just prescribe pills for everything. He said that when it comes to fertility issues, it is a big "cash cow" for treatment. He said that when one gets to the stage of IVF, there is the mention of pairing it with acupuncture to help the success rate, but he said that there are studies proven that if you use acupuncture on its own that there is an 80% success rate (given that there is no structural anatomical problem that of course would not be fixed by acupuncture) but he said that is not mentioned to peopl.

 Anyways, it's one person's opinion but it really just got me thinking about the affect of using drugs. My cycles have now gone virtually normal with ovulating the same time every month, no spotting during luteal phase, and a longer luteal phase that it makes me believe that I can do this on my own. It just gives me more hope. Also, after seeing the positive changes in my cycle after acupuncture, my husband is very against me going on Clomid now. Me on the other hand is desperate and so would do anything but it's not just my decision.