07/09/2022
Great to see awareness about adenomyosis growing & even better that acupuncture is recommended to help relieve symptoms 👏🏻
Adenomyosis is a painful condition where cells that are like those that line the uterus grow in the layer of muscle in the uterine wall. 😣
Around 1 in 5 women have adenomyosis, and the condition is often associated with endometriosis. Many women or people with a uterus can experience both. With endometriosis, the cells grow on other parts of the body such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
The cause of adenomyosis is unknown. It's thought that it might occur:
👉 due to surgery involving the uterus, such as c-section or removal of fibroids
👉 early in foetal development
👉 after childbirth.
Adenomyosis needs the female s*x hormone oestrogen to grow. For this reason, it mainly occurs in women aged between 30-50 years. The condition is sometimes experienced by younger women.
Women with adenomyosis may have some or all the symptoms listed in the image below. They can be mild, or severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Often the symptoms will disappear after menopause as oestrogen will have depleted.
It can be a difficult condition to diagnose because there isn't a specific test for it. An ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can sometimes pick it up, but often it's not diagnosed until after a hysterectomy.
If diagnosed by a scan, there are many treatment options available, depending on symptoms and stage of life.
Treatment for mild symptoms include exercise, acupuncture and pain medication. For more severe symptoms, an IUD or oral contraceptive pill can help. Specialists may recommend surgical options, such as an endometrial ablation or a hysterectomy.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are concerned, please see your GP. 🩺
ℹ️ Sources:
Health Direct (2020). Adenomyosis
Jean Hailes for Women's Health (2021). Adenomyosis
