What is Adenomyosis?

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So as I have previously admitted I am absolutely no expert on adenomyosis but I'm just going to write a quick blog post about what I have found out so far!

 So what actually is adenomyosis? 
So adenomyosis is often referred to as the sister of endometriosis.  It is a condition where the the cells of the womb's lining grow into the uterus muscle.  It can occur in any one who has periods but is actually most common in women who have had children or those aged between 40 and 50 years old.  I struck lucky on that one then..

 Like endometriosis, no one really knows why adenomyosis occurs.

It has similar symptoms to endometriosis, which include:
  • heavy periods
  • painful periods
  • pain during sex
  • bleeding between periods
  • tiredness and dizziness
I experience all of those symptoms from my endometriosis, so it is hard to distinguish between the two and is a possible reason as to why it has only just been discovered.  (Alongside my old consultant not actually believing or listening to me and refusing to scan me or perform any surgery!!!)

How is it diagnosed?
It isn't easy to diagnose adenomyosis and my gynaecologist consultant told me that a diagnose cannot be 100% until the tissue is tested post hysterectomy.  However, you can have ultrasounds and MRIs that may be able to pick it up - as happened in my case.

How is it treated?
When my consultant believed I had an adenomyoma (a mass of adenomyosis in one area) he would have been able to remove it during surgery.  However, my adenomyosis was diffused and this was no longer an option.  Whilst people recommend hormone treatment can treat adenomyosis because it reduces the production of oestrogen, I was informed that a hysterectomy is the only way for adenomyosis to be treated.  

Adenomyosis is hard to live with.  Whilst I'm experiencing no different pain than what I already experience from the endometriosis, the psychological impact is massive.  Knowing the longer I leave the adenomyosis to grow the more it will be infused in my womb is worrying, the risks of premature pregnancy and increase in miscarriage are already evident with adenomyosis, I just have to hope that when the time is right that luck is on my side and these conditions will not win!

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