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Key points
- A "tipped uterus" is one pointing more toward a woman’s back or rear end.
- There is a 1 in 3 chance that a woman may have a tipped uterus.
- A woman with a tipped uterus may prefer intercourse positions where she’s face to face with her partner as opposed to rear entry.
There’s an almost one-in-three chance that a woman may have a uterus that is tipped or a bit out of plumb. This usually isn’t a reason for concern. Most women go their entire lives unaware they have a tipped uterus. However, a tipped uterus can impact the kind of intercourse positions a woman likes.
The orientation of a tipped uterus
The uterus is about the size of a woman’s fist and it sits just above her vagina. Think of the letter P, with the vagina being the straight part and the uterus being the round part at the top which usually points forward, toward a woman’s belly. When a uterus is tipped, it looks more like the letter Q, with the uterus pointing more toward a woman’s back or rear end, which is why some women with a tipped uterus experience period pain more as a backache than as discomfort in their abdomen.
Preferred intercourse positions
It’s not unusual for a woman with a tipped uterus to prefer intercourse positions where she’s face to face with her partner as opposed to rear entry which can be painful because of the way her uterus is pointing. So the missionary position or a forward-facing woman-on-top position might be her favorites, as opposed to rear entry or a reverse cowgirl.
“My uterus is tipped or tilted. It makes doggy-style intercourse painful. I prefer to be on top of my boyfriend.”
“I have a very tipped uterus. Unless I’m pregnant they can’t pick it up on a regular ultrasound because it leans so far backward. Intercourse feels best with me on top or missionary. I’ve found that doggie style isn’t very comfortable for me, nor is me being on top while facing his feet. As long as we are close to each other, belly touching belly, deep thrusting is fine. If we are separate, like if I’m laying down and he is in an upright position, deep thrusting can be uncomfortable. Where I’m at in my cycle also plays a role in how comfortable or uncomfortable things are.”
“I have a tipped uterus, and this may be why it hurts when my partner thrusts too deep. It may also be why I don’t like to be penetrated from the rear. Being on top is the most comfortable position for me and the one that provides the highest likelihood of orgasm.”
If you are a male with a new female partner and you'd like to try rear-entry intercourse, it’s always a good idea to ask if she likes it rather than assume. Just because it was a former partner’s go-to position for certain pleasure, it might not be for someone new.
