Retroverted uterus and painful sex

Hello ladies,

So after my laparoscopy and no endo was found plus having pelvic physiotherapy, I am still having the same problem (sharp pain during deep penetration)

And I was told that I have a retroverted uterus. Is there any connection between this and the pain I am having? And does anyone have a similar situation?

Thank you all xxx

[MTL2008]

I also have a retroverted uterus and pain during deep penetration. My pain is a strong pain in the lower back, mostly on the left side. I haven't been diagnosed with endo yet because those are my only symptoms. I've been on the pill for 8 years and my periods are regular and no painful at all.

Because of the painful sex I had for several years, at some point I developed vaginism (your body goes into involuntary spasms to avoid anything to get in, in order to protect you). I bought a vaginism kit online and overcome the vaginism with the help of some exercises and an understanding partner.

We are able to have sex now, but some positions are better than others (I found "women on top" easier and painless). I still get pain when he's on top and goes really deep. We bought a device called the Ohnut, but we haven't tried it yet. It's kind of a bumper that's supposed to control how deep he goes.

I'm on the waiting list for a laparoscopy (about 5 months from now). But I'm not sure I'm going to do it. At the beginning I thought that I wouldn't be able to have sex anymore and I would need something to be done in order to fix it. But now, I did so much improvement in that area that I started to think that maybe, in my case, surgery is not the best option for me right now as you can also develop more adhesions (scar tissue) with the surgery.

I'm going to see another doctor on December 20th in order to get a second opinion and see what my options are. I'm 42 and even though I'm very awared that time is not on my side I still would like to make decisions that would allow me to get pregnant if I wanted to (I'm in a relatively new relationship). It's complicated.

[Hidden in reply to MTL2008]

Hi and thank you for your reply!

We are trying different positions too (and same situation, if he goes deep, it's si painful) but it is getting better.

I hope you find answers and a better solution for you.

Best of luck xxx

[MTL2008 in reply to Hidden]

Can I ask you why did you have the laparoscopy? Do you have others symptoms as well? From what I read, endo might be missed by the surgeon if he/she is not an endo specialist. I hope you find your answers too.

[Hidden in reply to MTL2008]

I had a horrible pain every time i was on my period plus heavy bleeding, clotting, lower back pain, nausea and bad bowel movement (diarrhea) sorry for the TMI. Also after I had my child through a c-section, I started having pain during sex.

My gynae was almost sure I have endo and wanted me to have a laparoscopy (she was an endometriosis specialist and I went to an endo centre) but there was nothing and I was told that I have a retroverted uterus and got the mirena iud fitted to see if it helps plus going to a pelvic physiotherapy.

Now I am going to see another gynaecologist soon to see what we can do about the painful intercourse, because the physio therapy is not helping with this point.

[MTL2008 in reply to Hidden]

Oh, I see... You really seem to have all the endo symptoms. Painful sex can happen due to several things. I hope they figure out what’s going on in your case.

I read a book called Healing Painful Sex by Deborah Coady. The book talks about the different kinds of pain (according to where and when you feel the pain) and what the problem might be. As you can see I did a lot of research because I was tired of not getting any answers.

I wish you the best.

[Hidden in reply to MTL2008]

Thanks a lot! And thank you for sharing this book, I shall have a look at it.

Wish all the best too dear. Xx

[Lindle in reply to MTL2008]

A retroverted uterus, pain with sex and left sided pain are symptoms of rectovaginal endo. Pain can radiate to the lower back and leg. Just wanted you to be aware as women on the pill for years can often develop it as many of the symptoms can be masked by the pill as endo progresses.

[MTL2008 in reply to Lindle]

Thank you for your response. Yes, I'm awared of that. The first time I heard about endometriosis was about 7 years ago, when I went to the gynaecologist in my home town because I was having painful sex (a strong sharp pain in the lower back that would go away as soon as I stop). He did an ultrasound and said that I had endo and that I needed a surgery. Then when I went back to the city I'm living now to see a another gynaecologist, he said that it was not endo, but rather a 3cm cyst on my right ovary (although the pain was mostly on the left side). I monitored this cyst for like 5 years with regular ultrasounds, to make sure it was not growing (and taking the pill from preventing it to grow as well). Then at the beginning of this year I went to see my doctor again because I wanted something to be done (like removing the cyst?) in order to get my sexlife back... and the cyst was gone and I was diagnosed with a retroverted uterus instead.

So that's when I started to do A LOT of research, because I had so many questions.

Was the sex pain really because of the cyst? Apparently no, because the cyst is gone and the pain is still there.

How come I have a retroverted uterus now? I know a retroverted uterus can bother you during sex, but in theory that's a new diagnosis which means it was not like that when I started to have the pain.

Can the retroverted uterus be a result of my endo that probably has expanded now after being so many years there?

Then I thought that maybe the problem is that I have some adhesions (scar tissue) from a former surgery. I had a 10cm dermoid cyst removed from my left ovary (the same side of the pain) 10 years ago in my home town. That's why the doctor from the city I'm living now didn't want to touch the right ovary because the left ovary was never seen in the ultrasounds after the surgery.

Anyway, I have so many questions... and no many answers. I just know that a laparoscopy is still a surgery and it can also lead to more adhesions. And that people that go through surgery might have to go back again and again. What if the endo (that doesn't bother me that much now) gets worse after touching that area? There are lots of organs and muscles in that area too. I have an appointment on December 20th with the first doctor that I saw 7 years ago. I'll see what his opinion is on this matter now.

I just don't know that to do. I'm on the waiting list for a laparoscopy, but I'm not sure about it either.

Thanks again.