Adenomyosis

Some symptoms of adenomyosis affect your periods, such as:

• painful periods – the pain may be severe and stop you from doing your usual activities
• heavy bleeding during your period

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

Some people with adenomyosis have no symptoms.

• your periods become more painful, heavier or irregular
• you have pain during sex
• heavy periods are affecting your life or you've had them for some time
• you've been feeling bloated for a while (about 3 weeks)
• you bleed between periods or after sex

The GP may ask about your periods if you have symptoms of adenomyosis. They may feel your tummy to see if there’s any swelling or bloating.

You can ask for a female doctor when you book your appointment.

The doctor might also ask to do an internal examination, to check your vagina and cervix (the opening between the vagina and the womb).

You can have a friend, family member or other member of staff in the room with you during your examination if you want.

Sometimes further tests are needed to find out what’s causing your symptoms, or to rule out similar conditions such as endometriosis.

Tests may include:

• ultrasound scan
• MRI scan

If you’re diagnosed with adenomyosis, there are treatments that can help ease your symptoms.

Treatments include:

• the IUS (intrauterine system, also called Mirena or hormonal coil), which thins the womb lining, making your periods lighter and less painful
• other types of hormonal contraception if you cannot or do not want to have an IUS, such as the progestogen-only pill, the combined pill or the contraceptive patch
• medicines such as tranexamic acid or NSAIDs

If these treatments do not work, you may need surgery.

This could be a hysterectomy, or surgery to remove the lining of your womb (endometrial ablation).

There are things that can help with period pain or pelvic pain caused by adenomyosis.

• use a heat pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a tea towel on your tummy

• try a TENS machine – a small device that uses mild electrical impulses to reduce pain

• take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen

It's not clear what causes adenomyosis.

You may be more likely to get it if you are over the age of 30 and have given birth.