While the good news is it won’t cause any serious health complications, the reality is that a retroverted uterus will cause pain and discomfort in some women. The symptoms can be subtle, so it’s worth knowing if there’s a reason for them.

Dr Lakhani explains: “Symptoms can include pain in your vagina or lower back during sex, pain during menstruation, difficulty using tampons, pressure in the bladder and more urinary tract infections as well as mild incontinence and a slight protrusion of the lower abdomen.”

Pain during sex

Having a uterus that tilts backwards can make some sexual positions uncomfortable, to say the least. It’s important to remember that pain during sex isn’t normal, and if you’re worried, contact your GP, but if things are feeling a little too intense in certain positions, you might want to stick to the ones that do feel good.

Trouble inserting tampons

Tampons, or menstrual cups, are supposed to be relatively easy to slide into place, so if you’re finding that they aren’t sitting comfortably, it could be a sign of a tilted uterus.

Painful periods

Women with retroverted uteri seem to experience more significant pain during their periods, and report back pain more commonly. This is most likely to be because the uterus is pushing against the spine.

It’s not all bad though, as Osahan says that her back pain helps her to identify when her period is due, and lots of women notice ovulation pain when they have a tilted uterus, which can be beneficial when it comes to trying to conceive.

Urinary problems

If you’re particularly prone to developing UTIs, the position of your uterus could be to blame. Having a backwards-facing uterus can put pressure on the bladder, causing mild incontinence and feelings of pressure in the abdomen.

1 in 5 women have a “retroverted uterus”, but what does this mean?