What is the difference between adenomyoma and uterine fibroids?

Adenomyoma and uterine fibroids are common gynecological diseases. The two diseases are somewhat similar, but also have some differences. So, what are adenomyoma and uterine fibroids? What is the difference?

Adenomyosis is a benign disease caused by the invasion of the endometrium into the myometrium. Pathologically, the myometrium is thickened, and the endometrial glands and stroma are distributed in islands, accompanied by smooth muscle fiber hyperplasia. Clinically, the main manifestations are dysmenorrhea, increased menstrual volume, and uterine enlargement. Accompanied by diffuse hyperplasia of the myometrium, it was previously called internal endometriosis.

Uterine fibroids are one of the most common benign tumors in the female reproductive organs and one of the most common tumors in the human body. They are also called fibroids and uterine fibroids. Because uterine fibroids are mainly composed of the proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells and a small amount of fibrous connective tissue exists as supporting tissue, they are more accurately called uterine leiomyoma.

The biggest difference between adenomyosis and uterine fibroids is that the causes are different. Of course, the symptoms are also different. Adenomyosis is a problem with the uterine muscles and glands. The uterus is composed of three layers of tissue, including the endometrium, the middle muscle, and the serosa, which is the same as the peritoneum. Under normal circumstances, the endometrium should be lower than the myometrium, and there is a boundary between the two.

Estrogen is the main factor promoting the growth of fibroids. Some scholars believe that growth hormone (GH) is also related to the growth of fibroids. GH cooperates with estrogen to promote mitosis and promote the growth of fibroids. They also speculate that placental lactogen (HpL) can also cooperate with estrogen to promote mitosis. They believe that the accelerated growth of uterine fibroids may be related to the high hormone environment of pregnancy and HpL is also involved.