Asked by: Dalius Zanggl
healthy living womens health

What is the difference between fibroids and adenomyosis?

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Adenomyosis vs. Uterine Fibroids: What's the Difference? Uterine fibroids are tumors -- usually benign -- in the wall of the uterus. Uterine adenomyosis is a condition in which the inner lining of the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus (myometrium) causing heavy, painful menstrual periods.


In respect to this, can adenomyosis be mistaken for fibroids?

Because the symptoms are so similar, adenomyosis is often misdiagnosed as uterine fibroids. However, the two conditions are not the same. While fibroids are benign tumors growing in or on the uterine wall, adenomyosis is less of a defined mass of cells within the uterine wall.

Secondly, what is the best treatment for adenomyosis? Treatment options for adenomyosis include:
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor might recommend anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), to control the pain.
  • Hormone medications.
  • Hysterectomy.

Also asked, which is worse endometriosis or adenomyosis?

Although they can occur together, endometriosis is when endometrial cells (the lining of the uterus) are in a location outside of the uterus. Adenomyosis is when these cells exist or grow into the uterine wall. Although both can cause pain, endometriosis does not always cause heavy bleeding.

Does adenomyosis get progressively worse?

Without treatment, adenomyosis may remain the same or symptoms can get worse. Treatment is not necessary if a woman has no symptoms, is not trying to get pregnant, or is nearing menopause, which is when most women find relief from their symptoms.

Related Question Answers

Batiste Zylstra

Professional

Can adenomyosis spread to other organs?

In endometriosis, the lining of the uterus, or womb, spreads outside of it. The growth can breach nearby organs like your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bladder. Adenomyosis, on the other hand, happens when the lining grows deep into the muscle wall of the uterus and thickens it. It doesn't go past the uterus itself.

Abdelmjid O neill

Professional

Do endometrial polyps cause weight gain?

Fibroids cause weight gain and bloating due to a hormonal imbalance or the size of the fibroid. Larger fibroids may cause a woman to gain weight in the abdomen. Consequently, weight gain and discomfort will follow as some fibroids weigh as much as 20-40 pounds.

Emiliano Pohvoschev

Professional

Does adenomyosis cause weight gain?

It can cause chronic pain, heavy or irregular periods, and infertility. Some people also report weight gain and bloating. Little research has explored why endometriosis might cause weight gain. Sometimes, other conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can mimic the symptoms of endometriosis.

Ivelina Jabotinsky

Explainer

Can adenomyosis affect your bowels?

Some women with adenomyosis may have cramping all month long, although still aggravated during menses. A tender uterus involved by adenomyosis also gets rearranged with filling or emptying of the bladder or rectum, so painful urination and painful bowel movements can be symptoms of adenomyosis.

Shaneka Dirxen

Explainer

Should I have a hysterectomy for adenomyosis?

With that being said, the only complete cure for adenomyosis is a hysterectomy. Unlike fibroids, which are often surrounded by a capsule, there is no clear border between abnormal and normal uterine tissue. Because of this, the condition can commonly recur even after ablation or embolism.

Oleg Aranguren

Explainer

Is adenomyosis a chronic illness?

Adenomyosis is a form of endometriosis, which affects the uterus. The chronic disorder causes the tissue that typically lines the uterus to grow on other parts of the body, such as the bladder, the bowels, and the ovary.

Ruht Bachhofen

Pundit

What does adenomyosis pain feel like?

The symptoms of adenomyosis may include:
Heavy bleeding. Severe pelvic pain with the menstrual cycle. Pain in the legs and back. Pelvic pressure.

Birgit Manzurika

Pundit

Is adenomyosis dangerous?

Adenomyosis isn't necessarily harmful. However, the symptoms can negatively affect your lifestyle. Some people have excessive bleeding and pelvic pain that may prevent them from enjoying normal activities such as sexual intercourse. Women with adenomyosis are at an increased risk of anemia.

Karishma Gartenhaus

Pundit

Can exercise help adenomyosis?

Here, we reported the first preliminary observation on the enhancing effect of exercise on post-HIFU treatment efficacy in uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Exercise can help relieve the symptoms of dysmenorrhea and also improve the uterine fibroid absorption after 1 year.

Chadli Raihelgauz

Pundit

Is adenomyosis progressive?

Both endometriosis and adenomyosis are progressive disorders of endometrial tissue which typically cause pain, but are treatable and non life threatening.

Yajnu Helfgott

Pundit

Can adenomyosis cause ovarian cysts?

Symptoms of adenomyosis and endometriosis, including pain, range from mild to severe. But some women with endometriosis have no symptoms. About one-third of women who have adenomyosis have no symptoms. Some symptoms can mimic those caused by other disorders, such as ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids.

Hamma Haupts

Teacher

Can adenomyosis cause fatigue?

Symptoms of adenomyosis, such as pain, fatigue, bloating, and abnormal uterine bleeding are commonly reported by women with endometriosis [20, 21]. Furthermore, fatigue/low energy, another highly reported impact of adenomyosis, appears to be a less common impact of endometriosis [21].

Marlies Wite

Teacher

Does birth control help with adenomyosis?

The birth control pill can help relieve the symptoms of adenomyosis. The progesterone hormone the IUD continually releases shrinks the tissue lining the uterus and through this mechanism decreases symptoms from adenomyosis.

Ilenuta Blomke

Teacher

Why is adenomyosis so painful?

Adenomyosis develops when cells from the endometrial lining of the uterus grow into the muscle of the uterus. Both adenomyosis and endometriosis can be very painful, cause severe monthly bleeding, and can mimic other conditions, making them hard to diagnose.

Soultana Giora

Teacher

How do u get adenomyosis?

The cause of adenomyosis isn't known. There have been many theories, including: Invasive tissue growth. Some experts believe that adenomyosis results from the direct invasion of endometrial cells from the lining of the uterus into the muscle that forms the uterine walls.

Coletta Leijalde

Reviewer

Can I get pregnant with adenomyosis?

Some women are able to conceive within a few months after completing these hormonal therapies. If these treatments don't help, your doctor may recommend surgery to help you get pregnant. Adenomyosis may sound similar to other reproductive health conditions like endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

Pilare Gibernau

Reviewer

What should I eat if I have adenomyosis?

Add these to your diet:
  • fibrous foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
  • iron-rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, broccoli, beans, fortified grains, nuts, and seeds.
  • foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as salmon, sardines, herring, trout, walnuts, chia, and flax seeds.

Sahagun Jetzschke

Reviewer

Can adenomyosis cause hormone imbalance?

As these cells respond to monthly hormonal changes, blood can get trapped in the myometrium producing a hard and enlarged uterus. Adenomyosis is most frequently seen in women in their early to middle 40s and is often associated with hormone imbalance… usually an excessive estrogen supply.

Deriman Kordesee

Reviewer

What does adenomyosis look like on ultrasound?

On sonograms, the most common appearance of adenomyosis is areas of decreased echogenicity or heterogeneity in the myometrium (see the images below). Hyperechoic or hypoechoic linear striation in the myometrium. Myometrial anechoic lacunae or cysts.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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23rd May, 2020

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