Adenomyosis causes painful symptoms like heavy periods and can persist after menopause for some women. While some may find relief from symptoms once periods cease, others continue experiencing lower abdominal pain even after menopause. This is more likely for women with larger uterus sizes over 8cm or an abundance of adenomyosis lesions. For these women, proactive treatments before menopause like Traditional Chinese Medicine or surgery may help alleviate ongoing pain. The decision to treat adenomyosis pre-menopause should consider symptom severity and standardized medical evaluation is important for patient health and well-being.

1. Wuhan Dr.Lee’s TCM Clinic
Is It Necessary
to Treat
Adenomyosis
as Menopause
Nears?

2. Adenomyosis, a subset of endometriosis, is marked by the growth of
endometrial tissue into the muscular wall of the uterus, leading to
significant gynecological discomfort.
It often presents with symptoms such as
heavy menstrual bleeding, extended
periods, infertility, and escalating pain over
time. Although it might not cause
noticeable pain initially, most patients
experience severe menstrual cramps as
the disease progresses.

3. Many patients nearing menopause might
assume that adenomyosis will cease to be a
problem once menstruation stops, believing
that the absence of menstrual cycles will
naturally eliminate the pain. However, this is
not always the case.

4. With the onset of menopause, some patients
may find relief from the painful symptoms of
adenomyosis as periods cease, bleeding stops,
and the lesions potentially shrink. Typically,
these patients have milder pain and smaller
lesions, and their postmenopausal life remains
largely unaffected, although regular medical
check-ups are crucial to monitor any changes
and to avoid foods or supplements high in
estrogen.

5. However, there are instances where patients continue to
experience lower abdominal pain even after menopause.

6. Firstly, the size of the uterus can be indicative.
A uterus larger than 8
centimeters—considered
large when the average is
about 5 centimeters—may
not reduce sufficiently after
menopause, particularly if it's
over 10 centimeters. Such an
enlarged uterus can pose risks
and lead to other
complications.

7. Secondly, an abundance of
adenomyosis lesions can
cause the uterus to enlarge
beyond normal size. These
lesions may persist within the
body, causing ongoing agony
even in the absence of
menstruation.

8. For these reasons, those with significant symptoms are
encouraged to consider proactive treatments, which could range
from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches to surgery.

9. TCM views adenomyosis as an endocrine imbalance, disrupting Qi
and blood flow, and suggests remedies focused on nourishing the
liver and kidneys, balancing the endocrine system, and promoting
blood circulation. The Fuyan pill, a TCM formulation, is said to address
these issues, aiding in the reduction of tissue lesions and alleviating
menstrual pain.

10. Surgical options are
available for those
with severe
symptoms, ineffective
medication
responses, or no
desire for future
fertility.
These can include
targeted removal
of lesions or, more
drastically, a
hysterectomy, each
with its own set of
pros and cons.

11. Ultimately, the decision to treat adenomyosis in the pre-
menopausal stage should be carefully considered, taking into
account the severity of the patient's symptoms. Standardized
medical evaluation and proactive treatment are essential for the
overall health and well-being of the patient.

12. If you have questions about
your condition and treatment,
contact our experts. Most
questions are answered in 24
hours.
wuhandrli@gmail.com
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