Adenomyosis

Though adenomyosis is considered a benign (not life-threatening) condition, frequent pain, and heavy bleeding can harm a woman's quality of life.

What Are the Symptoms of Adenomyosis?

While some women diagnosed with adenomyosis have no symptoms, the disease can cause:

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Severe menstrual cramps
• Abdominal pressure and bloating
  
  How Is Adenomyosis Treated?
  
  

• Adenomyosis treatment depends partly on your symptoms, their severity, and whether you have completed childbearing. Mild symptoms may be treated with over-the-counter pain medications and a heating pad to ease cramps.
  
  
• Anti-inflammatory medications. Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve mild pain associated with adenomyosis. NSAIDs are usually started one to two days before the beginning of your period and continued through the first few days.
  
  
• Hormone therapy. Symptoms such as heavy or painful periods can be controlled with hormonal therapies such as a levonorgestrel-releasing IUD (inserted into the uterus), aromatase inhibitors, and GnRH analogs.
  
  
• Uterine artery embolization. In this minimally invasive procedure, which is commonly used to help shrink fibroids, tiny particles block the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the adenomyosis. The particles are guided through a small tube inserted by the radiologist into the patient's femoral artery. With the blood supply cut off, the adenomyosis shrinks.
  
  

Endometrial ablation. This minimally invasive procedure destroys the lining of the uterus. Endometrial ablation effectively relieves symptoms in some patients when adenomyosis hasn't penetrated deeply into the uterus muscle wall.