01 December 2023 , 15:34
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It's easy to write off uncomfortable symptoms as straight-up period pain during that time of the month, but one sign could mean there is something more serious going on.
Lots of people find that while they are menstruating they can suffer from a bevy of unpleasant symptoms and it's easy to simply dismiss them as part and parcel of the monthly cycle. However, some signs can indicate a more serious womb condition, and it's one that regularly takes years to diagnose: Adenomyosis. Despite how long it can take to identify, it impacts around one in ten women - and can take a significant toll on both mental and physical health.
Adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue grows on the muscular walls of the womb, instead of the lining of the uterus where it is designed to be. Throughout your menstrual cycle, this kind of tissue thickens and then breaks down - responding to changing hormone levels in your body. When it grows in the muscular walls, it still breaks down causing inflammation.
One expert has some important advice on how to watch out for this condition, Dr. Susanna Unsworth, intimate wellbeing brand INTIMINA's gynaecology expert explains that there are five main signs of the condition, but that one-third of those who have it don't display any symptoms at all.
Of these five, there is one that many people suffer from, particularly during the pre-menstrual part of their cycle: bloating. While this can be a normal symptom for those who suffer from PMS - not everyone does - it's worth keeping an eye on and Dr. Unsworth recommends seeing a GP if you suffer from bloating or abdominal fullness, just to be safe.
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The other main signs of Adenomyosis are having heavy or really long periods, "significantly painful periods, pain during or after sex" and "persistent pre-menstrual pelvic pain". It's important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms, particularly as diagnosis takes an average of three to four years. Diagnosis will usually begin with a pelvic exam, followed by an ultrasound - but in some extreme cases, it is only discovered after a hysterectomy.
Just under half (49 percent) of sufferers find that their mental health is severely impacted - INTIMINA reports - by the condition, and Dr. Unsworth says that part of the problem is that women's health issues are "often overlooked".
"Sadly, as with many women's health issues, it can often take time for adenomyosis to be diagnosed. Menstrual symptoms are often overlooked, both by medical professionals, but also women themselves, who often do not recognise their symptoms as a sign of a potentially treatable condition," the expert explains.
"There needs to be more education around women's reproductive health conditions, both societally and in the medical profession, equipping doctors to adequately diagnose conditions such as adenomyosis and to put an end to the years spent chasing a diagnosis."
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