What are the symptoms of adenomyosis?

The symptoms of adenomyosis are mainly irregular menstruation, aggravated menstrual dysmenorrhea, and some patients may also experience abnormal uterine enlargement and infertility. This disease needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible, and appropriate treatment methods should be selected according to the symptoms, including medication, surgery, and lifestyle intervention.

1. Irregular menstruation and increased menstrual flow: One of the most common symptoms of adenomyosis is irregular menstrual cycle or significantly increased menstrual flow. This is caused by the invasion of the endometrium into the myometrium, which affects the contraction function of the uterus. If the menstrual flow continues to be abnormally heavy and the menstrual period is prolonged, you need to get checked as soon as possible.

2. Severe and aggravated dysmenorrhea: Many patients experience gradually aggravated dysmenorrhea, especially on the first day of menstruation. The pain may radiate from the abdomen to the lower back or thighs. Even outside of menstruation, deep pelvic pain may continue. If dysmenorrhea cannot be relieved by conventional painkillers, adenomyosis should be suspected.

3. Abnormal uterine enlargement: Due to the invasion of endometrial tissue, the uterus will be diffusely enlarged, which will appear as a bulge in the abdomen or a mass in the abdomen. This may cause compressive symptoms, such as increased urination frequency or difficulty in defecation. If you have similar symptoms, you should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.

4. Infertility or recurrent miscarriage: Adenomyosis may have a significant impact on the ability to conceive and increase the risk of infertility and early miscarriage. This is because changes in the intrauterine environment interfere with the ability of the embryo to implant or maintain pregnancy. Early treatment is particularly important for patients who want to have children.

For patients diagnosed with the disease, treatment can focus on the following aspects:

Drug treatment: For patients with mild symptoms or who are not considering surgery, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can be chosen to relieve pain; hormonal drugs such as levonorgestrel-releasing system and GnRH agonists can also be tried to inhibit endometrial hyperplasia.

Surgical treatment: For patients with severe symptoms or those who are ineffective with conservative treatment, uterus-preserving surgery such as adenomyosis or radical hysterectomy can be selected. The surgical method depends on the patient's age, fertility desire, and disease distribution.

Lifestyle interventions: Reducing chronic inflammation is critical to managing the symptoms of adenomyosis. This can be achieved by reducing high-fat diets, increasing the intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and improving overall health through regular light to moderate intensity exercise.

If any suspected symptoms occur, you should go to a gynecologist as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and early treatment are of great significance to improving the quality of life and preventing further deterioration of the disease.