[wishfulgal]

posted a while back that I was having an MRI of my pelvis done b/c of the left sided sciatic and left buttock pain I have before my period.

I actually still haven't heard from my doctor (It's been almost 2 weeks. She's been out of the office, but I think they should have a system in place to get back to their patients.), but finally went to the MRI department and asked for a CD of my MRI to take to my doctor and just read the report on the CD. Basically it doesn't say a whole lot, my Rt. ovary is bigger than the other and there was a little free fluid. No masses or endometriosis seen (BUT endo often doesn't show on MRI anyway).

The one thing that really stuck out to me is that the repost said my uterus is retroverted (tipped backwards). I was told this once after a pelvic exam but I never knew for sure. I'm a a radiological technologist, so I was able to look at the images and compare them to some "normal" images in my anatomy textbook. WHOA. My uterus seriously goes completely the opposite direction of a "normal" uterus. Where most women's uterus will tilt forward toward their belly, mine is going back toward my spine. It also goes off to the left, which I'm thinking *could explain my symptoms since on some of the images it does look like it's pressed right up against my sacrum.

Now, from what I've researched, a tipped uterus is fairly common and *shouldn't* cause fertility problems (although doctors used to think it did). And it CAN be caused by an underlying issue such as endometriosis, so I'm still not convinced that I don't have endo. And since it does take me awhile to get pregnant, and my uterus looks VERY tipped, I can't help but think this might have *something* to do with our problem. Anyone else have a tipped uterus or know anything about it?

Ha, this explains why I didn't show very much when I was pregnant. I totally joke that he was growing in my butt -- looks like he was! Also explains why I had low back pain during my pregnancy starting at like 7 weeks. I remember thinking, "If this baby is reall only the size of a blueberry, why is my back hurting already??!"

[jesridge]

I have a retroverted uterus. My doctor doesn't ever seem too concerned when I ask about it. In fact, she said "it doesn't mean you will have problems conceiving." It's been about 9 months of trying now, though, so I don't really know for sure. My mom also has a retroverted uterus, though, and she said she didn't have any problem getting pregnant with my brother and me, so... I guess it's not a big deal. Sorry I'm not more help!

[NutMeg76]

I have a retroverted uterus too. Although docs say it doesn't matter, I don't always agree with docs. Not to be too TMI, but with all of my pregnancies I tend to get pregnant after either me being on top or um....ah.... rear entry positions, or if I roll over on my belly after. Another thing I have heard is helpful is to make sure you orgasm after he finished. It causes the uterus to contract and dip the cervix down. This helps to draw the semen into the cervix.

[Arya]

I have no idea what kind of a uterus I have lol But at least you know so you can maybe try different positions or something like that. Good luck!

[Mod-LilSunshine]

Ugh...I'm sorry to hear that your dr. didn't get back to you! 2 weeks is forever to be waiting. Very interesting about your uterus! I would think that it could cause some issues for you...I would have a hard time believing that it has no chance of causing issues, ya know?

[wishfulgal]

Ok. Now I'm frustrated.

My doctor FINALLY called with the results today, 13 days after my MRI and a over a week after I was told to expect the results). I was impressed that my doctor actually personally called me BUT I am so frustrated with her. Basically she just told me the results were normal. When I told her I had read the report and looked at the images myself and asked about the retroverted uterus, I was shocked : She basically said that not only does think the retroverted uterus has anything to do with my fertility issues, but she also thinks it has nothing to do with my pain at all! She still thinks it has something to do with my spine, even though the pain is ONLY the 10 days before AF and sometimes during AF. I mean, today is CD 9 and I have absolutely no pain! I really don't think that it's a coincidence that I only have pain before my period!

The doctor went on to say she really don't think that I have anything to do with why we aren't conceiving and recommended a semen analysis for DH. (Which ironically, he was seeing his own doctor about today anyway.) She also started talking about IUIs and fertility drugs, which I would be fine with if it comes to that but she hasn't checked my hormone levels or anything yet.

My little sister is an RN and looked up retroverted uterus in her nursing book (which is only 2 yrs old, so not out of date), and it says right in there that a retroverted uterus can cause back and pelvic pain as well as some difficulties in conceiving b/c of the position of the cervix.

So anyway, I'm really starting to wonder if this doctor knows what she is talking about. Not sure what to do now.

[Mod-LilSunshine]

Oh wow. Sorry, but I would be getting a second opinion if I could. She doesn't sound super knowledgeable! It's interesting that she didn't even mention your retroverted uterus....and that you had to bring it up!

[NutMeg76]

Actually the pain makes complete sense to me. Like I said my uterus is tilted too, and I always have to go with the opposite when checking cervix position. For me when I should be SHOW at ovulation time is when it is EASIEST to find the opening to my cervix is it is SLOW...hehe. Anyway, I could see that the position of the uterus, as in when the cervix should be lower like right before the period that it would change the angle enough to put pressure on the sacrum and cause sciatic type pain.

Cyclic back pain can also be from your pelvis needing to be stabilized, which you can do through physical therapy. (this plug coming from a physical therapy assistant that used to have lowback pain and does not anymore from doing exercises ) What happens is the release of hormones during that part of your cycle makes the already unstable pelvis worse, allowing the SI joint to move when it shouldn't. Add to that the extra pressure from the uterus and voila back pain. Now, if you strengthen the pelvic musculature, it keeps the SI joint from being dysfunctional, which reduces pain.