UAE vs Other Adenomyosis Treatments

Adenomyosis is a painful uterine condition that can be hard to diagnose, due to overlapping symptoms with fibroids, endometriosis and more. Fortunately, once you have a correct diagnosis, effective adenomyosis treatments can help you find relief. In this post, we compare UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization) to other treatment options to help you make informed decisions about your health.

Understanding Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue migrates from the uterine lining into its muscular wall. This effectively thickens the uterine lining which, in turn, leads to an enlarged uterus that could be triple its original size. The cause of this condition, affecting approximately 1 in 5 women, appears to be hormonal, so many women will experience relief in the year following menopause. But many more can't wait that long for relief from painful symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms

About 33% of women with adenomyosis experience symptoms, meaning you could have this condition without any awareness. And, even if you have warning signs, they could be similar to several fibroid symptoms, complicating the diagnostic process.

Adenomyosis can affect women at any age, as we learned from this review of affected adolescent women. In this study, authors discovered several common adenomyosis symptoms, including endometriosis of the pelvis; asymmetry in the uterine wall; the presence of cysts; and heavy bleeding during periods.

Additionally, symptoms of adenomyosis may include:

• Cramping
• Blood clots
• Long or irregular menstrual cycles
• Spotting between periods
• Bloating
• Pain during sex
• Painful bowel movements
• An increased risk for a miscarriage or pre-term delivery

UAE Vs Other Adenomyosis Treatments

Adenomyosis can only be cured via hysterectomy (surgical uterine removal.) However, less invasive adenomyosis treatments can provide symptom relief. Your options include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication to manage pain
• Hormonal birth control to help regulate your menstrual cycle and reduce heavy bleeding
• Lingzagolix, a medication that keeps your body from producing some hormones, stopping menstruation and alleviating some of the worst symptoms of adenomyosis
• Endometrial ablation, an option that can address symptoms by destroying wayward tissue. It works when endometrial tissue has not penetrated deeply into the muscular uterine wall
• UAE, which can also address symptoms by targeting endometrial tissue. It can be effective for even deeply rooted endometrial tissue, since it works by blocking blood flow to affected areas, starving i of nutrition and causing it to wither.

Can I Treat Adenomyosis with UAE?

According to this study, UAE effectively provides short-term relief for adenomyosis symptoms, causing fewer side effects than surgical treatment options. During the procedure, particles are injected into your uterine artery, blocking blood flow to your targeted treatment areas. This deprives your tissue of oxygen and blood, helping relieve your symptoms. As a minimally invasive procedure, you can undergo this adenomyosis treatment without an overnight hospital stay. And you can explore your candidacy when you visit us at the Dallas Fibroid Center.