How is adenomyosis treated?

Treatment for adenomyosis can be done with medication or surgical procedures to remove excess tissue or the entire uterus. The type of treatment varies according to the age of the woman and the severity of the symptoms, being recommended in the mildest cases only the use of medication.

It is important that the treatment of adenomyosis is done according to the guidance of the gynecologist, otherwise there may be progression of symptoms and an increase in the chances of complications in a future pregnancy.

How is the treatment done?

The treatment for adenomyosis is done according to the symptoms presented by the woman and age, with the most used forms of treatment being:

1. Use of anti-inflammatory drugssuch as Ibuprofen or Ketoprofen, with the aim of reducing the inflammation of the uterus and relieving abdominal cramps, being normally indicated by the gynecologist to use 3 days before the menstrual period and maintained until the end of the cycle;
2. Use of hormonal drugs, such as the contraceptive pill with progesterone or estrogen, which prevents menstruation and, therefore, prevents severe pain. Hormonal drugs can be taken in pill form or used as a vaginal ring, IUD or birth control patch, for example.
3. Surgery, in which excess endometrial tissue inside the uterus can be removed when it is not yet deeply penetrated into the uterine muscle. In more severe cases, when adenomyosis causes constant pain or profuse bleeding, the doctor may indicate the definitive removal of the uterus, without having to remove the ovaries.

Thus, depending on the age of the woman, the doctor will select the most appropriate form of treatment for the woman’s life goals, as women who still intend to become pregnant should not undergo treatment with hormonal drugs or surgery to remove the uterus, for example.

If the woman wants to become pregnant, adenomyosis must be treated as soon as possible to prevent complications during pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancy, difficulty in embryo fixation and abortion, and it is important to follow the obstetrician during pregnancy. Learn more about adenomyosis.

signs of improvement

Signs of improvement in adenomyosis appear about 3 weeks after the start of treatment, and a decrease in the menstrual cycle and pain can be noticed during sexual intercourse and during the menstrual cycle, in addition to the reduction of blood flow during the menstrual period.

Although there is a decrease in symptoms, it is important to follow the treatment until there is guidance from the doctor to stop the use of medication.

signs of worsening

Signs of worsening happen when treatment is not done correctly, with an increase in symptoms and aggravating the woman’s condition, and the total removal of the uterus may be necessary, as there may be intense pain and bleeding, for example. See what happens after the uterus is removed.

Can adenomyosis cause infertility?

Adenomyosis normally does not interfere with fertility, however, as the disease progresses, the process of attaching the embryo to the uterine wall may become more difficult, making it difficult for a woman to become pregnant. In addition, adenomyosis is often accompanied by endometriosis, which can make pregnancy difficult.

Watch the video with Dr. Helizabet Ribeiro, a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis who clarifies all doubts about this disease: