Adenomyosis, Enlarged Uterus Specialist, Doctor | Gynecologist Midtown Manhattan NYC

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a disease that can be difficult to diagnose. The only way for your gynecologist to definitively tell if you have adenomyosis is after you have a hysterectomy to treat your symptoms after which the tissue would be examined under a microscope. However, treatment based on ultrasound images or suspicion is usually recommended.

Adenomyosis refers to a condition that causes the endometrial tissue lining of your uterus to grow into the muscular walls of your uterus. Once the endometrial tissue is implanted in the muscle of the uterus, the tissue continues to act as it always does, growing, thickening, breaking up and bleeding out during your period. Adenomyosis can be very painful when it causes your uterus to become enlarged. It creates exceptionally heavy bleeding during your menstrual cycles. Adenomyosis should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a physician  for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Why It Happens

The cause of adenomyosis is unknown, but there are theories for this condition. It usually affects women later in life, prior to menopause, but after they’ve already had kids. It generally improvesafter you go through menopause, because the hormones that cause menstruation are very low.

Some of the causes of the condition may include:

• Abnormal development in utero, meaning endometrial tissue is deposited outside your uterus while you are still forming in your mother’s womb.
• Tissue that was cut during another procedure, such as a C-section, may cause the invasive growth and actually instigate the invasion.
• A stem cell-related disease, in that bone marrow somehow seeps into the uterus and cause the unusual tissue movement.
• Following childbirth, when the uterine lining becomes inflamed. The inflammation may cause a break in the lining of your uterus, which normally forms a natural barrier for the tissue.

No matter how it develops, what is known is that estrogen feeds it. The tissue growth relies on continuing hormone production to fuel its growth, which is why the condition goes away after menopause, where much hormone production is reduced.

Symptoms Vary

It’s possible that you could have adenomyosis and not even know it. At other times, the symptoms can be painful and obvious, such as:

• Pain while having sexual intercourse
• Heavy uterine bleeding during your period or periods that last longer than they should
• Strong cramps during your menstrual cycle that get worse as you age
• A sharp, stabbing pain through your pelvis during menstruation
• Passing blood clots with your menstrual blood

Pelvic pain and heavy bleeding can both be symptoms of untreated adenomyosis

Additionally, you may notice a bulging in your abdominal area from where your enlarged uterus protrudes. You might not recognize that it’s your uterus and instead think that your belly has become enlarged and tender. But if you’re experiencing any pain in your abdominal region, it is always a good idea to visit your OBGYN NYC specialists.

Risks Associated with Adenomyosis

Since endometrial tissue needs estrogen to grow, it makes sense that if you’re menopausal or postmenopausal, you’re at a lower risk of developing adenomyosis. Full understanding of the condition and how it starts is still under investigation, but recent studies suggest that strong pelvic pain in younger women may have its origin in adenomyosis. The condition may even appear in women as young as adolescence.

Risk factors that are clear and include:

• Being middle-aged
• Giving birth at least once
• Previous surgery that involved your uterus, such as a Cesarean section or fibroid removal

Additional risk factors related to the condition:

• Adenomyosis with endometriosis makes for a common occurrence. And although they can happen at the same time, endometriosis doesn’t always cause heavy bleeding.
• Myometrial cyst leads to a rare variant called cystic adenomyosis that may be caused by repeated hemorrhages in the uterus.
• Adenomyosis and cancer are often linked when you have to take tamoxifen to treat cancer. At the same time, adenomyosis does not necessarily relate to a higher incidence of cancer.

Testing May Prove Helpful

The only way to confirm a diagnosis of adenomyosis is to examine the tissue after you‘ve had a hysterectomy and your uterus has been removed. A hysterectomy can help with pain and bleeding related to adenomyosis, however this is not the only option. The continual bleeding may not be painful, but it can disrupt your life enormously and lead to anemia with symptoms of depression, feelings of futility and frustration.

Tests Midtown gynecologist may order to identify the cause of your excessive bleeding include:

• A pelvic exam, during which he can feel for abnormalities
• A thorough history of your recent bleeding experiences
• Imaging tests such as an MRI and adenomyosis ultrasound to rule out other uterine diseases
• Endometrial biopsy

Treatment Options

Depending on your age, the best solution may be to treat your symptoms in order to get you to menopause, at which time your adenomyosis will abate. Effective treatments can include:

• Hormone medicine that combines progestin and estrogen. It may lessen your bleeding. A hormonal IUD, which primarily puts out progestin, also may help reduce your bleeding. Continuous use oral contraceptives that sometimes eliminate your periods may also provide relief.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen help to reduce the discomfort and pain associated with the heavy menstrual cycles you get and can relieve some of the discomfort of the heavy bleeding while you wait for natural menopause to take place. Many of the treatments women with heavy menstrual cycles use may provide you with some relief as well. Soaking in a warm bah may ease your discomfort, as can putting a heating pad on your abdomen when you have cramps.
• Hysterectomy is  a form of definitive managements of symptoms if they’ve become unmanageable and you’re years away from menopause. You only need a partial hysterectomy and can keep your ovaries. Without your uterus, however, you will not be able to get pregnant.
• Endometrial Ablation can help reduce the amount of bleeding you experience during your menses and may even reduce pain associated with periods. The produce only take a few minutes and is done in a gynecology office

All signs and symptoms should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a physician  for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Important Reminder: This information is only intended to provide gynecology guidance, not definitive medical advice. Please consult your OBGYN doctor about your specific condition. Only a trained, experienced gynecologist or certified gynecology specialist can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Have questions about Adenomyosis? Schedule an appointment with the NYC leading Gynecologist, Dr. Fernando Mariz, today.

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