April is Adenomyosis Awareness Month – a time to raise vital awareness of the condition, its impact, and empower anyone who experiencing symptoms to seek help.
Adenomyosis is where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb grow within the muscle of the womb wall. The condition also responds to the hormones in the menstrual cycle and affects 10% of women and those assigned female at birth. You can have only endometriosis or adenomyosis, although it’s quite common to have both.
Jo Hanley, Endometriosis UK's specialist advisor has written a useful blog giving guidance on the condition.
For some, having adenomyosis can be impact all aspects of their lives. Endometriosis UK volunteer Nikki speaks for many when she says:
“Adenomyosis doesn’t just affect you in a medical way it can really affect your mood and wellbeing as the symptoms can cause you to miss out on social events and can also feel quite isolating. I hope this awareness month will spread vital awareness about this debilitating condition and can help to break taboos and myths, it is definitely not just a bad period.”
Latest research from Endometriosis UK shows that despite Adenomyosis only 17% of the general public have ever even heard of endometriosis, which is contributing to lengthy diagnosis times and a lack of societal knowledge and understanding about the disease. These statistics must be a wake-up call to Governments, the NHS and society as a whole: we cannot ignore the devastating impact menstrual health conditions such as adenomyosis have on people’s lives. We must see urgent action to increase the awareness of adenomyosis amongst the general public and healthcare practitioners, and see the introduction of mandatory education amongst healthcare practitioners so that everyone recognises the symptoms of the condition.
If you are experiencing adenomyosis symptoms such as heavy or painful menstrual bleeding, talk to your GP and Endometriosis UK’s new nurse led helpline is on hand to offer support if you need someone to talk to before your appointment.
