What is a Tilted Cervix & Can it Prevent Pregnancy?

Several women suffer from tilted cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. It is a common worry among women if tilted cervix can prevent pregnancy or not. It is important to know the causes and symptoms of tilted cervix and whether it can prevent pregnancy.

A tilted cervix can be confirmed with a proper pelvic examination. In medical terms, it is known as a retro-flexed uterus and is considered to be an anatomical variation of the uterus. Statistics reveal that around 25 percent of women around the globe suffer from the symptoms of tilted uterus but commonly does not cause any problem to the woman.

Under normal conditions, the cervix along with the uterus lies in a vertically straight line and can be found slightly forward to the bladder which lies in the pelvic cavity. However, if the cervix is tilted, then it lies slightly behind the pelvis.

In the olden days it was believed that a tilted cervix interferes with conception and may prevent pregnancy but studies reveal that this is a complete myth.

A tilted cervix is extremely common with several women from around the globe experiencing it. Here are some of the major causes of tilted cervix in women.

• Tilted cervix is a birth problem in many women and is part of the individual’s anatomical feature. A common cause of tilted cervix is an anatomical variation during the embryonic development. A tilted cervix does not affect the sexual functioning of the woman and neither does it affect the woman’s ability to both conceive a baby and give birth to one. Many women simply remain unaware of the fact till after they have given birth to their child.
• In certain cases, the tilted cervix occurs after birth and there are several causes underlined for the same. One of the most common acquired causes of tilted cervix is inflammation in the pelvis which may happen due to a surgery or trauma or any other problem. Sexual infection causing inflammation is also another cause of tilted cervix. Any organ in the abdominal cavity, which is operated upon, too can sometimes cause tilted cervix.
• A less common cause of a tilted cervix is flexible and weak ligaments in the body. If the ligaments of the uterus are weak, it can cause a tilted cervix. Also diseases such as colon cancer, bladder cancer and pelvic tumor can change the position of the uterus, which can cause a tilted cervix.

In most cases, until and unless the woman experiences a problem related to her uterus, she does not experience any symptoms of tilted cervix. In other cases, there may be some symptoms of tilted cervix which suggest the same.

1. Feeling of pain during sexual intercourse is one of the commonest symptoms of a tilted cervix. If the penis penetrates in the vagina with a lot of force, it can damage the cervix and its surrounding tissues. However, this symptom may be present in many other issues in the reproductive system so it is advisable to evaluate this symptom.
2. Another common symptom of tilted cervix is pain during the menstrual cycle and back pain during sexual intercourse.
3. Other symptoms include painful insertion of a tampon and an increased risk of urinary tract infection.
4. Difficulty in emptying the bladder and taking time to urinate are other symptoms of tilted cervix.

In the past, a tilted cervix was thought to prevent pregnancy and was considered as one of the major reasons for infertility in women. It was believed that a different uterus position prevents the sperm from travelling to the egg easily thereby causing infertility. However, recent and advanced studies suggest that a tilted cervix has no role to play in infertility as it does not prevent the sperm from travelling to the egg.

However, if there are other problems of female reproductive tract, it can prevent pregnancy or cause complications. If a woman is suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometriosis which often results in adhesions and scars, it can prevent sperm from passing into the fallopian tube and ultimately prevent pregnancy. Also, if she does become pregnant, her pregnancy can have problems and be painful in some cases.

Since a tilted cervix makes a sexual intercourse painful in nature, many women limit their act to a large extent. Reduced sexual activity decreases the chances of conceiving, which may prevent pregnancy.

A tilted cervix is not something to worry about in most cases, unless it is associated with painful symptoms and other problems. Understanding the causes and symptoms of tilted cervix can help to seek timely help. In most cases, a tilted cervix may not prevent pregnancy, but if there are any associated conditions or underlying causes, specific medical attention is required.