Are endometriosis and adenomyosis distinct diseases?

Today the central theme of our content is women's health. After all, are endometriosis and adenomyosis different diseases? Come and find out more!

Currently, a topic related to women's health has been gaining a lot of attention in the media: endometriosis.

The singer Anitta was the one who started the discussion about this disease. At the beginning of the month, Anitta went to her social media and, aiming to talk more about women's health, she said that she was diagnosed with the disease after years of living with it.

After exposing her situation to all her followers and the media, Anitta underwent surgery and is currently recovering from the intervention.

And taking into account all the visibility and influence that Anitta has in Brazil and around the world, endometriosis has become the focus of several discussions about women's health, serving as a warning for many women who suffer from the disease and its effects to seek a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

It was thinking about all this repercussion caused by the singer that we had the idea of creating this special material, since both endometriosis and adenomyosis are diseases that still cause many doubts among people.

Therefore, in today's topic, we are going to talk about these two diseases and answer a question that may be part of the reality of many women.

After all, are endometriosis and adenomyosis different diseases? What are the main characteristics and treatments for each of them?

Here, you will find the most important information about these diseases that affect millions of women around the world!

Are endometriosis and adenomyosis distinct diseases?

Although they are diseases that can often be associated – and even confused – endometriosis and adenomyosis are distinct diseases.

Even though both are diseases that affect women's health, it is necessary to keep in mind that each of them has its own particularities and they deserve full attention for the maintenance of women's health.

What is endometriosis?

Before we get into the subject of 'what is endometriosis', we need to talk a little more about the origin of the problem.

There is a part of the uterus called the endometrium. The endometrium is a mucous membrane that lines the inner wall of the uterus. This mucous membrane is sensitive to changes in the menstrual cycle, and is where the egg implants itself after being fertilized.

If fertilization does not occur, a large part of the endometrium is eliminated during menstruation. What is left grows back and the entire process repeats itself with each cycle throughout the woman's life.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition – which consists of a change in the normal functioning of our body – that is caused by the cells of the endometrium.

This type of condition occurs when these cells follow a different cycle and, instead of being expelled, they follow the opposite direction.

This causes them to fall into the ovaries – or into the abdominal cavity. There they multiply and bleed again. And this is what causes discomfort in women who suffer from endometriosis.

And although some cases are asymptomatic, symptoms of endometriosis often include: 

Menstrual cramps: as the disease progresses, these cramps tend to become increasingly severe. This can get to the point where it disrupts a woman's routine, preventing her from carrying out her usual activities.

Dyspareunia: there are stages of the disease where a woman may experience dyspareunia, which is nothing more than pain – mild, moderate or intense – during sexual intercourse. 

Bowel and urinary pain and bleeding during menstruation;

Infertility: in more severe cases of endometriosis, women may even have their fertility compromised.

What is adenomyosis?

Adenomyosis is a little different in some aspects.

Also known as uterine adenomyosis, it is a disease where a type of thickening occurs within the walls of the patient's uterus.

When it comes to treatment for this disease, some of the options are anti-inflammatory medications, treatment using hormones and, as a last resort, surgery to remove the uterus.

But this last treatment is usually only used when other treatment options do not work for the patient.

Among the main symptoms of the disease are: swelling in the abdominal region, extremely strong cramps during the menstrual period, pain during sexual intercourse, an increase in the amount – and duration – of the patient's menstrual flow and even constipation and/or pain when evacuating.

In addition to these symptoms, patients suffering from adenomyosis may also suffer from serious complications during pregnancy.

These complications can range from difficulties in getting pregnant – as in some cases, there is difficulty in attaching the embryo to the uterus – ectopic pregnancy and even miscarriages. 

Therefore, in these cases, it is recommended to have constant monitoring with an obstetrician throughout the pregnancy.

This way, the patient can reduce the chances of facing any of these difficulties.

Just like endometriosis, there are cases where adenomyosis does not cause symptoms, but in most cases, symptoms tend to appear after pregnancy and disappear after the patient enters menopause.

Conclusion

As you can see throughout today's text, although endometriosis and adenomyosis are distinct diseases, each of them can affect both a woman's intimate health and her general health.

Furthermore, in both cases they require medical diagnoses.

The story told by Anitta – and, consequently, the discussion she raised – was extremely important in giving more visibility to a disease that, despite affecting women of all ages around the world, still does not receive all the attention it deserves.

And to conclude this content, we would like to highlight the importance of seeking medical advice if you notice any of the symptoms described in today's material. 

This way, in addition to ensuring an early diagnosis, you will be able to obtain the most appropriate treatment for your case.

This way, you will ensure all the health and well-being that you and your body deserve!

Did you like this content? Then I think you should take the opportunity to read it too Monkeypox: How is it transmitted? Is there a cure? What are the symptoms?

Content created with information taken from websites Drauzio Varella and Your Health

Ivan July 29, 2022