Adenomyosis consists of normal endometrial tissue (the layer that lines the uterus from the inside and is destroyed and regenerated with each menstruation) penetrating inside the muscular layer of the uterus, causing it to thicken. It is a relatively common disease. Are you looking for What is adenomyosis treatment? Let’s find out below.
What are the causes of Adenomyosis?
The causes of Adenomyosis are unknown. It is more common in women over 30 who have had children, most often by cesarean section or have had other uterine surgery.
How is Adenomyosis diagnosed?
Adenomyosis is diagnosed by palpating the uterus and performing a gynecological ultrasound. It is usually a transvaginal ultrasound. An enlarged uterus is usually seen either diffusely or locally. An MRI is necessary to perform before any adenomyosis treatment.
Is it hereditary, contagious, or can it be prevented?
Adenomyosis cannot be prevented, nor is it hereditary or contagious.
Forecast On Adenomyosis Treatment
Adenomyosis cannot be cured, although its prognosis is usually good. The symptoms disappear with menopause. The only way adenomyosis treatment to completely cured is by performing a hysterectomy (removing the uterus).
What is the adenomyosis treatment?
Adenomyosis is asymptomatic. Pain can be controlled with analgesics and heavy bleeding with contraceptives or a progestin-containing IUD. In case of severe symptoms, the following can be done:
- Endometrial ablation destroys a part of the endometrium if it has not penetrated far into the muscle layer.
- Uterine artery embolization consists of performing a catheterization through the femoral artery (in the groin) until reaching the uterine artery. There, a kind of gelatin or plastic is injected that plugs the artery and prevents irrigation to the area where the Adenomyosis is found, which leads to its disappearance.
- Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment of the disease.
What is the reason behind developing Adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is a disorder of tissue lining the uterus (endometrial tissue) in the uterine muscle, that is, out of place. The uterus consists of two fundamental parts: the endometrium, which is the functional part that prepares itself each month for pregnancy and, when it finally does not occur, is expelled in the form of a period; and a muscular outer layer (myometrium) that plays an essential role in childbirth, generating contractions for the baby to be born.
In women with endometriosis, endometrial tissue can grow outside the uterus. In Adenomyosis, there are also endometrial glands located where they do not belong, but in this case, they are within the muscular layer of the organ.
Prevalence
The prevalence of this pathology is very high. It affects between 20% and 25% of women. There is a high percentage of underdiagnosed cases because it is a fairly unknown disease among the general population, and in many cases, it is asymptomatic.
A review concludes that this condition may be more frequent throughout life than is currently documented, which can substantially affect the quality of life of women. Some of its possible consequences are infertility, chronic pain, heavy menstruation, and impaired sexuality.
Causes
The causes of Adenomyosis are unknown, but several risk factors have been described that contribute to its diagnosis:
- Previous uterine surgeries can produce an alteration in the union between the endometrium and the myometrium that favors the endometrium to invade the external muscular layer.
- Having had several children (multiparity)
- Age between 40 and 50 years
- Have endometriosis.
- Sterility
- Having heavy and painful periods
Symptoms
The predominant symptom of adenomyosis is usually heavy bleeding, unlike endometriosis, in which the most common is pain. Symptoms and manifestations can be very diverse:
- One-third of patients are asymptomatic.
- In 50% of cases, there is vaginal bleeding outside the menstrual cycle (metrorrhagia).
- 30% suffer from uterine pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea).
- Menstrual periods that are too long or heavy (menorrhagia).
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Dyspareunia or pain during sexual intercourse
- This disease is related to fertility, sterility problems, and a higher rate of spontaneous abortions. Hence an adequate adenomyosis treatment is vital.
Prevention:
Periodic gynecological check-ups are crucial for early diagnosis of possible symptoms that may indicate Adenomyosis and, consequently, offer the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
Types:
Adenomyosis is usually classified into two subtypes:
- Focal: The displaced endometrial tissue is located in restricted areas of the myometrium.
- Diffuse: It is the most common. In it, the endometrial tissue is distributed in large part of the myometrium, which causes the uterus to increase in size.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is made by assessing the symptoms presented by the patient (menstrual pain, heavy periods) and is confirmed by transvaginal ultrasound. If in doubt, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used. It is the best method to identify and characterize Adenomyosis adequately.
Adenomyosis treatment for all!
Hormonal treatment can be systemic or local (with an intrauterine device or IUD that releases gestagens in the uterus), allowing bleeding to be controlled. The pain is treated with anti-inflammatory analgesics.
Surgical treatment is not used frequently. There are two types of surgery: radical and conservative.
The first is only performed when the woman no longer wants to become pregnant since it involves removing the uterus (hysterectomy).
Conservative surgery consists of removing the foci of Adenomyosis and preserving the uterus, but “it has uncertain results, is technically very complex, and is associated with risks. Therefore, this adenomyosis treatment is only chosen in very selected cases.
On the other hand, new adenomyosis treatments are beginning to be applied, such as the HIFU system, which consists of bombarding the affected area of the uterus with high-frequency ultrasound in a focused manner.
In women who have already passed reproductive age, estrogen-dependent Adenomyosis improves or is cured with Menopause Awareness.
Other complications:
Adenomyosis is not a malignant or fatal disease, but it is not exempt from complications and “contributes greatly to the loss of quality of life for women.
Request A Consultation At The USA Fibroid Centers
Adenomyosis is associated with a higher risk of systemic and chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In a high percentage of cases -it has been described in up to 80%- it coexists with endometriosis and fibroids. Also, it is common to produce anemia due to bleeding.
We suggest you comprehend the complications and consult our team of professionals here.
Schedule an appointment today!
USA Fibroid Centers has been helping women overcome fibroids without surgery since 2016.
You can find hope in knowing our trusted fibroid doctors have years of experience performing Uterine Fibroid Embolization care
Request a consultation with a specialist in Uterine Fibroids and related symptoms at USA Fibroid Centers today.
