Adenomyosis is an alteration that occurs when the tissue that lines the entire interior of the uterus penetrates the muscular layer of this organ, called the myometrium. In other words, this disorder is a thickening of the uterus, and when the endometrial tissue passes to the outer walls of the uterus, adenomyosis occurs. Furthermore, this disorder is characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in the thickness of the myometrium. For this reason, many know this pathology by the name of internal endometriosis. This causes women who suffer from it to have a significant irritation when they menstruate since there is also bleeding in the muscles of the uterus. If you want to know more about this alteration, at FastlyHealwe, we provide you with all the information about adenomyosis: symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of adenomyosis
There are many cases in which women suffering from adenomyosis do not present any symptoms; However, when there is a symptom, the following may be suffered:
- Pain in the back, mainly in the lower area.
- Dysmenorrhea or excruciating menstrual periods.
- Dyspareunia or discomfort while having sex.
In addition, it is normal for there to be infertility, menorrhagia or heavy and prolonged menstrual periods, metrorrhagia, or some non-menstruation-related bleeding. The intensity of the symptoms is related to the severity of the problem. Still, you must consult a doctor if you present one or more of those mentioned above.
Causes of adenomyosis
Although a specific cause of adenomyosis is not known, this pathology is linked to the hormonal activity of the ovaries and, more specifically, to the production of estrogen. This is why women over 40 or 50 years of age who have had more than one delivery are more likely to suffer adenomyosis, mainly if they underwent cesarean section or uterine surgery.
Sometimes adenomyosis can cause a mass or tumor inside the uterus, known as an adenomyoma.
How Adenomyosis Is Diagnosed
If you have one or more symptoms of adenomyosis, the chances are that when you go to the doctor, the first thing they will do is take a look at your medical history. Then, you may choose to request a pelvic exam, which can reveal the presence of this disorder if the uterus is two to three times larger than average.
Another option is for the specialist to request a transvaginal or gynecological vaginal ultrasound, which introduces a probe into the vagina to examine the uterus. In this way, an unequivocal diagnosis is achieved.
The last possibility is that the doctor will ask you to perform an MRI, which can be very useful when the ultrasound results are not definitive. As there are numerous pathologies with similar symptoms, the specialist must complete the necessary tests to confirm what alteration it is.
Treatment for adenomyosis
Generally, women who suffer from adenomyosis are those who are approaching menopause, and only some have symptoms, so many times they do not need any treatment; however, for those cases in which there is present symptomatology, the treatment will be determined according to them and if the patient wishes to have children or not in the future.
The most effective method to treat adenomyosis is the surgical removal of the uterus, called a hysterectomy. However, it is not widely used since symptoms usually worsen between 40 and 45 years of age and disappear after menopause, so this operation is never required.
On the other hand, they were consuming anti-inflammatories to control the discomfort caused by this pathology, and contraceptive pills to stop the release of hormones during the menstrual cycle caused the symptoms to decrease significantly.
For the above reasons, it is of the utmost importance that you go to a doctor so that he can carry out the necessary controls and grant you the treatment corresponding to your condition.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Adenomyosis: symptoms, causes, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of the Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.