What are the symptoms of adenomyosis?
Many women with adenomyosis display no symptoms. Symptoms include heavy vaginal bleeding with menses and associated severe menstrual cramping. The bleeding is thought to be due to the boggy uterus’ inability to contract around bleeding blood vessles of the endometrium at the time of menses. Cramping will often start up to one week before menses. Due to the amount of heavy bleeding, a patient may also develop fatigue from the associated anemia. How is adenomyosis diagnosed? Diagnosis of adenomyosis is made by taking the patient’s history and by physical exam. On physical exam the uterus is generally enlarged, soft, tender, and boggy. X-rays are not helpful with diagnosis of adenomyosis. At times, however, adenomyosis can be identified by Ultrasound, MRI, or hysterosalpingogram (dye is placed inside the uterine cavity and X-Ray studies performed). Definitive diagnosis can only be made at the time of pathologic evaluation after hysterectomy. Q. How is adenomyosis treated? Treatment of ade
