Because it has similar symptoms, some people easily mistake this problem for endometriosis
Women around the world could be suffering with “debilitating pain” from a condition that nobody can see. This specific kind of problem often goes “undiagnosed for many years”, a doctor warned.
Asif Ahmed, a British GP, claimed that the issue can sometimes appear like endometriosis – a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can, in some cases, lead to a wrongful diagnosis.
He said: “This is like endometriosis, but it’s not. It can cause heavy, painful periods and one in 10 women have it.
“This goes undiagnosed for many years but I’m seeing it more and more on ultrasound results and it’s adenomyosis. [With this], the lining of the womb grows in the muscular wall of the womb.”
This is different from endometriosis, which can spread through other parts of the body. However, where the confusion arises is the fact that the symptoms are “very similar”.
Symptoms of adenomyosis affect your periods, such as painful periods with heavy bleeding. Other symptoms can happen any time in your menstrual cycle, such as:
- pelvic pain (pain in the lower part of your tummy)
- bloating, heaviness or fullness in your tummy (abdomen)
- pain during sex
The condition isn’t fully understood – and the cause is somewhat unknown. There are certain factors that experts believe are linked to the condition though such as having more than one childor being between 30 and 50 years old – but can also occur in younger women.
A specialist will be able to diagnose this problem for you with either an MRI or ultrasound machine. You can ask for a female doctor when you book your appointment.
There are things that can help with period pain or pelvic pain caused by adenomyosis.
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use a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy
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try a TENS machine – a small device that uses mild electrical impulses to reduce pain
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take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
A hysterectomy is the only way to fully cure adenomyosis, but it’s a major surgery that’s usually a last resort. Other treatments include hormonal therapy and pain medication.
