Adenomyosis or Uterine Fibroids: How to Know the Difference

Adenomyosis and uterine fibroids are two conditions that can affect your uterus. Both conditions can cause heavy periods, pelvic pain, and bloating.

While they might share some of the same symptoms, the reality is that they’re two different conditions that require two different types of treatment, and knowing which condition you’re dealing with is the first step in getting the relief you need.

Take a moment as our Fresno Fibroid Center team explains each condition and how they can tell the difference between them.

Adenomyosis versus uterine fibroids

Adenomyosis occurs when the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium) grows through the muscle wall of your uterus (myometrium). 

Even though the endometrium is pushed through into your myometrium, it continues to go through its normal cyclic changes. That means it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds throughout your menstrual cycle. 

However, because this tissue isn’t in the appropriate location, this condition can make your uterus become enlarged and cause more intense menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding. 

Women with adenomyosis may also experience pain during intercourse and chronic pelvic pain.

On the other hand, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or on your uterine walls. These growths vary in size and number and can cause symptoms like prolonged periods, pressure in your abdomen, and frequent urination if they press on your bladder. 

Fibroids can become embedded into the muscular wall of your uterus (intramural fibroids), under the lining of your uterus (submucosal fibroids), under the lining of the outer surface of your uterus (suberosal fibroids), or attach themselves via stem to your uterus (pedunculated fibroid). 

Intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroid and can contribute to “bulk” in your uterus. Just like adenomyosis, these fibroids can contribute to heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain.

How to tell the difference between adenomyosis and fibroids

When you come to Fresno Fibroid Center for symptoms like heavy bleeding or pelvic pain, Drs. Balfour, Pruett, or Tower have two goals: to determine the source of symptoms and then create a treatment plan to help you get the relief you need.

Imaging

Ultrasounds and MRIs are key tools for distinguishing between adenomyosis and fibroids. While fibroids are generally visible as distinct masses, adenomyosis shows up as a diffuse thickening of the uterine walls.

Review of your symptoms

If you experience cyclic pelvic pain that worsens during menstruation, adenomyosis might be the cause, whereas fibroids often lead to a sense of pressure or heaviness due to the bulk of the growth. 

Fibroids can also cause constipation. In fact, 25.8% of women with fibroids report “extremely bothersome” constipation. 

Explore your treatment options

Both conditions can be managed albeit differently. Adenomyosis is often managed with hormonal treatments or, in severe cases, hysterectomy. About 42% of women undergoing hysterectomy do so because of severe adenomyosis. There may be a role for minimally invasive therapy as well with embolization. 

Fibroids can be treated with a options including noninvasive procedures like uterine fibroid embolization or surgical removal.

You might consider uterine fibroid embolization for fibroids if you’re experiencing symptomatic fibroids, you want to avoid surgery, and you’re currently not expecting.

Get the answers you need in Fresno, California

If you’re unsure which condition is causing your symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re more than happy to get you started with proper imaging and diagnosis — which is the best way to determine the cause and explore appropriate treatments.

You can reach us at 559-216-0746 or through our online form.