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Adenomyosis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Cervical endometriosis - Uterine endometriosis

General

Uterine adenomyosis is a condition that causes heavy, painful periods in women. In women who have uterine adenomyosis, the uterus gets larger than normal. This happens because the kind of cells that normally line the inside of the uterus start to grow in the walls of the uterus. Adenomyosis often happens along with other problems that affect the uterus, especially endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the kind of cells normally found only in the uterus starts to grow outside of the uterus.

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Signs & symptoms

Adenomyosis symptoms may include: - Heavy periods - Painful periods - Pain in the lower belly

Diagnosis

Adenomyosis may be difficult to diagnose. In the past, it was diagnosed only by examining tissue samples, for example after uterine surgery. Now the noninvasive diagnostic tools of sonograms and MRI are available. Adenomyosis causes the uterus to enlarge, so your doctor will perform a physical exam to feel if your uterus is swollen or tender. A sonogram is usually done first. An MRI is used if needed to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, where a more precise image is required, sonohysterography may be used. This involves an injection of saline solution into the uterine cavity before a sonogram. The sonohysterography can distinguish between adenomyosis and other disorders of the uterus such as polyps or cysts, as it allows the inside of the uterus to be better visualized.

Treatment

The only proven treatment for adenomyosis is surgery to remove the uterus, called a hysterectomy. But there are other treatment options that might reduce the heavy bleeding caused by adenomyosis, including: - IUD – An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small device that fits inside the uterus and is normally used to prevent pregnancy. It is most recommended to use the hormonal IUD type. - Endometrial ablation – This is surgery to cause scarring in the lining of the uterus, which makes periods less heavy. - Uterine artery embolization – This is a treatment that blocks the blood supply to the uterus. Treatments that can ease the pain of adenomyosis include: - Pain medicines, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) - Birth control pills - A medicine called leuprolide (brand names: Lupron, Eligard), which causes your ovaries to stop making the hormones estrogen and progesterone

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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Orilissa or surgery are what helped me. Full hysterectomy with ovaries removed too was the best thing I ever done. Taking birth control didn't help me much at all. Heating pads on back & abdomen, plus hot baths do help. There's even teas they make to help with the menstrual pain. I swear by orilissa Tho. I was scared to do it, so I put off taking it for years once I took it though I felt a million times better. It can make you have menopause symptoms like hot flashes. But I got hot flashes alot with my cycle anyway so that didn't matter. I wish in 2017 I had the hysterectomy when I had my 1st endometeriosis surgery but I wanted kids. Never Could have any though. Laproscopy with an actual endometriosis doctor is your best bet. Don't go to a typical obgyn they don't do as well. There are drs that just do endometeriosis patients only all day every day. Go onto the Facebook group Nancy nook and they can point you in the right direction with the best endo surgeon in your area. Don't put it off. I had stage 4 endo and **adenomyosis** on steroids. It ate it's way outside my uterus and went inside my colon, strangled my colon in many spots where I had to have some of my colon removed. It had been all over my bladder and luckily wasn't inside. It did wrap around my kidney ureter and I almost lost my kidney if I didn't have surgery. No more appendix or gallbladder. I had multiple cyst and growth the size of small melons. 1 growth was the size of a baby in my uterus. Don't put it off. I had imaging for years and drs never saw anything with ultrasounds. It was a mri Defotography test thst saw I had it bad. My Dr did surgery I'm up there in top 2% worst cases recorded. It not only effects your fertility and causes pain It can take your life

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