Adenomyosis is a very common benign gynecological disease in women of reproductive age characterized by the existence of the endometrium in the thickness of the myometrium. Adenomyosis can be diffuse (throughout the myometrium) or focal (only in one site of the myometrium).
What is the difference between adenomyosis and endometriosis?
Both diseases are similar in cause and pathophysiology, but while endometriosis is characterized by the existence of endometrium in the ovaries or outside the uterus in the pelvis, adenomyosis occurs when the endometrium is found in the myometrium (wall of the uterus). Some authors call adenomyosis “internal endometriosis”.
How serious is adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is not a serious disease but it is bothersome, as it generates frequent symptoms such as heavy uterine bleeding (hypermenorrhea) and pelvic pain that can be during the menstrual period (dysmenorrhea) or outside it (non-cyclic pelvic pain). It is important to monitor iron deposits in patients with heavy uterine bleeding as they are at increased risk of anemia.
What treatment should be followed if the patient decides to become pregnant?
Most patients with adenomyosis will achieve pregnancy spontaneously. However, this condition can hinder the correct transport of both the egg and the sperm, generating infertility. In these cases, assisted reproduction treatments such as IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).