The ancient wandering womb theory suggested that many ailments in women were caused by the uterus becoming dislodged and roaming the body in search of moisture.
Author
- Michelle Spear
Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol
According to these theories, the uterus could roam freely around the body, pressing on the liver or lungs and causing symptoms such as breathlessness, fainting and emotional distress - what was later termed "hysteria", from the Greek hystera (uterus).
Treatments included fumigating the lower body with sweet-smelling herbs to entice the uterus back downward, exposing the nose to pungent odours to drive it away from the chest and adding weights to the abdomen to prevent the uterus from rising. Marriage and pregnancy were often prescribed as cures, under the belief that a busy uterus was a happy, well-behaved one.
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In the 18th century, advances in anatomy and dissection began to disprove the notion that the uterus could physically roam. However, the legacy of the wandering womb lived on well into the 20th century in the diagnosis of "female hysteria" , an unevidenced catch-all for a multitude of symptoms.
While the uterus doesn't float around like a balloon in the chest cavity, it does change position. And this matters. Mobility is essential for fertility, menstruation, pregnancy and pelvic health.
How much does the uterus move?
The uterus sits between the bladder and the rectum, suspended by a series of ligaments. These don't hold it immobile - rather, they allow it to rock and tilt.
Its position can be anteverted (tilted forward over the bladder), retroverted (angled back toward the rectum and spine), or somewhere in between. These variations are entirely normal and often vary.
That position matters. The uterine angle can affect where menstrual pain is experienced. For those with a retroverted uterus, discomfort may radiate into the lower back. For others, cramping is felt more in the lower abdomen.
A forward-tilted uterus may press more directly on the bladder, increasing the urge to urinate, especially in early pregnancy. Conversely, a backward tilt might impinge on the rectum, contributing to constipation or bloating.
During sexual arousal, the uterus "tents" - lifting slightly and lengthening the vaginal canal. During labour, it contracts powerfully and rhythmically, drawing the cervix upwards and helping to expel the foetus.
Even the cervix - the narrow opening at the base of the uterus - is not fixed in place. Its height, texture and openness vary across the menstrual cycle in response to hormonal cues. During ovulation, it rises and softens to allow sperm entry. Before menstruation, it lowers and firms up again.
The uterine tubes: searching, not wandering
Perhaps the most surprising anatomical revelation is that a uterine (fallopian) tube on one side of the body can capture an egg released from the opposite ovary. If there's a true seeker in the reproductive tract, it's the uterine tube.
Each month, at ovulation, the fimbriae - finger-like projections at the end of the tube - sweep across the surface of the ovary, coaxing the released egg into the tube's entrance. The tube isn't anchored directly to the ovary. Instead, it finds it. Like a sea anemone in slow motion, it explores, flexes and moves.
Once caught, cilia - tiny hair-like structures that line the inner surface of the tube - work in concert with muscular contractions that move the egg towards the uterus. This choreography is vital but also explains the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
If a fertilised egg implants in the tube instead of travelling to the uterus, it can pose a serious medical emergency. Ironically, it's the very adaptability and reach of the tube that makes it vulnerable.
The ovaries are also slightly mobile, suspended by ligaments that allow for some degree of movement within the pelvic cavity. This becomes especially apparent after hysterectomy when the removal of the uterus can cause the ovaries to "drift", sometimes complicating imaging or surgical planning.
While their movement is more limited than that of the uterus or tubes, it still plays a role in pelvic dynamics. In rare cases, it can result in ovarian torsion, a painful twisting of the organ that requires emergency care.
While mobility is normal, excessive movement or weakened support can cause problems. Uterine prolapse - when the uterus descends into or beyond the vaginal canal - can result from weakened pelvic floor muscles, often after multiple childbirths or due to age-related changes. It's a mechanical failure, not a moral one. Sadly, though, history hasn't always treated it that way.
Similarly, adhesions from endometriosis or previous surgeries can limit natural mobility, causing severe pain as organs that should glide against one another become tethered and inflamed.
While the uterus does indeed move, it does so within anatomical boundaries and under the influence of ligaments and hormones - not whim. The enduring myth of the wandering womb reflected broader anxieties about the female body: that it was unpredictable, unruly and in need of control. Today, with the benefit of imaging, dissection and anatomical research, we can replace that myth with a deeper understanding of purposeful mobility.
Michelle Spear does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
