Endometriosis and Fertility Resource Page

Adenomyosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and supporting tissues in the muscle of the uterus where it normally would not occur. When that gland tissue undergoes growth during the menstrual cycle and then subsequent sloughing, the old tissue and blood cannot get out of the muscle and flow out of the cervix as part of normal menses. This trapping of the blood and tissue causes uterine pain in the form of menstrual cramps. It also produces abnormal uterine bleeding as some of the blood finally escapes the muscle and results in prolonged spotting.

Adenomyosis occurs more often in the decade of the 40’s, perimenopausally. In hysterectomy specimens, adenomyosis can be found from 15% to 25% of the time. The glandular change of the endometrial cells in adenomyosis are often incomplete in the second half of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase) and as a result, adenomyosis may not be very responsive to suppression by progesterone. About 50% of adenomyosis is asymptomatic although as it goes deeper into the uterine muscle it tends to be more likely to produce symptoms. It is also often associated with fibroids and often associated with other conditions such as ovarian cysts, prolapse and even gynecological cancers that can cause pelvic pain.

(Source: Woman’s Diagnostic Cyber)

Adenomyosis: Is It Really Endometriosis?
by Robert B. Albee, MD

Adenomyosis (add-en-o-my-OH-sis) is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium. (The myometrium is the medical term for the muscular portion of the uterine wall.) In the past, adenomyosis was referred to as endometriosis interna in the medical world, and sometimes as inside-out endometriosis in lay terms. What we commonly call endometriosis can also be called endometriosis externa.

Adenomyoma (add-en-o-my-OH-ma) is the name given to an area of adenomyosis that is encapsulated by myometrial tissue. Because of the presence of adenomyosis, this complex of tissue is differentiated from a myoma (a fibroid tumor).

(Source: Center for Endometriosis Care)

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