What is the difference between dysmenorrhea and adenomyosis?

The main difference between dysmenorrhea and adenomyosis is that dysmenorrhea is a symptom, while adenomyosis is a disease. The causes, pathogenesis, and treatment methods of the two are different. Dysmenorrhea is usually divided into primary and secondary, which may be related to menstrual-related hormone fluctuations, while adenomyosis is mainly manifested by abnormal growth of endometrial tissue. In view of the difference between the two, it is necessary to understand their specific characteristics and take appropriate coping methods.

1. The difference between concept and etiology

Dysmenorrhea is a common symptom during menstruation in women, which can be divided into primary dysmenorrhea without organic lesions and secondary dysmenorrhea caused by diseases. Primary dysmenorrhea is usually caused by elevated prostaglandin levels; secondary dysmenorrhea may be caused by uterine or pelvic diseases, such as uterine fibroids or adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is a gynecological disease in which endometrial glands and stroma invade the myometrium, causing local inflammation and uterine enlargement. Its cause may be related to frequent uterine trauma, genetics, and abnormal hormone levels.

2 Differences in symptoms

Dysmenorrhea is usually cyclical severe pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, etc., and often occurs before or during menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhea is usually not accompanied by other abnormal signs, while secondary pain often presents with persistent pain, which may be accompanied by abnormal menstrual flow or other gynecological symptoms. The pain of adenomyosis is more persistent and severe, and may have symptoms such as "irregular bleeding", "increased menstrual flow", "prolonged menstruation", "dyspareunia", etc., which may affect daily life in severe cases.

3. Differences in diagnosis

The diagnosis of dysmenorrhea is mostly based on medical history and symptoms. Primary dysmenorrhea usually does not require imaging examinations; secondary dysmenorrhea requires pelvic ultrasound or MRI to exclude possible pathological causes. When diagnosing adenomyosis, imaging examinations are important means. Ultrasound examinations may reveal thickening or spherical uterus, and MRI can clearly identify the distribution of abnormal signals in the myometrium.

4 Differences in treatment methods

Mild dysmenorrhea can be relieved by hot compresses, proper exercise, or the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Primary dysmenorrhea can be treated by oral contraceptives to improve hormone fluctuations. Secondary dysmenorrhea should be treated for specific diseases. The treatment of adenomyosis varies according to the patient's age, fertility needs and severity of the disease. Drug treatments include androgen analogs such as danazol and progestin drugs such as Mirena intrauterine contraceptive devices. In severe cases, surgical treatment may be required, such as hysterectomy or adenomyosis lesion resection.

Adenomyosis and dysmenorrhea are both related and significantly different, especially in terms of etiology and treatment. If you find that dysmenorrhea symptoms continue to worsen or are accompanied by other abnormal manifestations, you should seek medical attention in time, and a professional doctor will confirm the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Pay attention to gynecological health and reduce unnecessary health risks.