Types of Female Pelvis, Shapes of Female Pelvis and Child Birth

Female Pelvis is of four types. Actually these types are based on the shape of female pelvis. The shape of

female pelvis is very important from gynecological point of view. The anatomical shape of the female pelvis

should be suitable for the passage of baby through it. Otherwise, baby may get stuck inside the pelvis that

may make vaginal delivery difficult.

Let us discuss different types or shapes of female pelvis on by one and in brief detail.

Types of Female Pelvis (Caldwell-Moloy classification)

(from left to right)

1 .Gynaecoid Pelvis.

This is the most suitable female pelvic shape. This allow normal child birth with ease. It has round pelvic

inlet and shallow pelvic cavity with short ischial spines. All these feature allow rapid birth of the baby. So

Gynaecoid Pelvis is the most suitable pelvic shape for childbirth.

2. Anthropoid Pelvis.
 Anthropoid pelvis has oval shaped inlet with large anterio-posterior diameter and comparatively smaller

transverse diameter. It has larger outlet. The problem in this pelvis is the inlet. The diameters of inlet favors

the engagement of fetal head in occiput-posterior position that may slow down the progress of labor. If head

engages in anterior position then labor progress normally in most of the cases.

3. Android Pelvis.

Android shaped pelvis has triangular or heart-shaped inlet and is narrower from the front. It has prominent

ishial spines and also has narrower transverse outlet diameter. Such pelvis is more likely to be present in tall

women. African-Caribbean women are more at risk of having an adroid shaped pelvis. Child birth is difficult

and more complicated in android shaped pelvis than gynaecoid pelvis. Women have to push harder, walk

more often and chances of instrumental vaginal delivery are high. It may prolong the labor.

4. Platypelloid Pelvis.

Platypelloid pelvis is has narrow anterio-posterior diameter of pelvic inlet. The pelvic inlet is specifically

kidney shaped. The pelvic cavity is usually shallow and diameters of outlet are favorable for the process of

labor. But platypelloid pelvis dont allow the head to engage with ease. But if the head manage to engage

then rest of the process of labor may occur normally but in most of the cases it is longer as compared to

progress of labor in case of gynaecoid pelvis.

Also compare fetal head diameters with pelvic diameter by reading the following article.

Fetal Head Diameters.

Pain relief in case of prolong labor.