What to Do When You Have Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis, similar to endometriosis, is when the inner lining of the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus. However, unlike endometriosis, adenomyosis is strictly located in the uterus. The symptoms caused by adenomyosis can include pain and heavy bleeding, which can ultimately have a negative impact on a woman’s life; disrupting their normal routine and causing psychological health issues such as depression. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and symptoms and learn about the treatments readily available.

Classifications of Adenomyosis

There are three different classifications of adenomyosis: focal, adenomyoma and diffuse. Focal is when adenomyosis is located in one particular site of the uterus, adenomyoma is a mass of focal adenomyosis and diffuse is spread throughout the uterus. Determining the classification of your adenomyosis is optimal as both focal adenomyosis do not require a hysterectomy if operated on and treated correctly from the beginning. If you are in need of help classifying your adenomyosis, Dr. Tamer Seckin, MD, can offer his expert opinion.

Symptoms

Many women typically report their first symptoms of adenomyosis when they are between the age of forty and fifty. However, symptoms can occur in younger women, so females of all ages should consider the following symptoms and report them if they persist with the notion that it may be adenomyosis.

Symptoms are similar to those of endometriosis and include pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, abnormal bleeding outside of a menstrual cycle, painful cramping, painful sexual intercourse, pressure of the bladder and a dragging sensation down the thighs and legs. It can also cause issues with trying to get pregnant and infertility.

Like its endometriosis counterpart, the causes to adenomyosis are unknown but highly speculated. Although it can be linked with endometriosis, there are differences between the two and, therefore, should not be considered one and the same. Causes which have been speculated by medical practitioners include uterine trauma such as cesareans, pregnancy, and abortion. The most widely accepted theory involves micro-injuries during pregnancy which leads to an elevation of estrogen to heal the damage, therefore, leading to uterine abrasions.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Due to the surgical treatment options revolving around hysterectomy or laparoscopic excision surgery, many women seek out non-surgical treatments first. These methods include the distribution of drugs which are also commonly used to treat endometriosis, symptoms such as birth control pills and/or an IUD which are used to reduce menstrual pain and bleeding, and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen to dull the pain.

Surgical Treatment Options

Sadly, adenomyosis can become too painful to live with, and surgery is the only option. There are two surgical categories: uterine-sparing and non-uterine-sparing which does not remove the uterus. Uterine-sparing procedures include a minimally invasive excision surgery where a conservative technique is used to remove the harmful tissue. By keeping the uterus intact, this is a great alternative surgery which allows young women suffering from adenomyosis the chance to have children naturally as uterine-sparing procedures can increase a woman’s fertility.

However, non-uterine-sparing procedures may also need to be considered in some cases, in which a hysterectomy or partial hysterectomy may be the best option. These radical surgery techniques must only be used in the most severe cases of adenomyosis and should be a last resort and agreed upon by the patient.