Adenomyosis is a medical condition that affects women, especially those who belong to the age group of 30 to 50. This uterine condition is usually harmless in nature. Adenomysosis is rare in women, who have never had a full-term pregnancy. Those who have had children, and those in the childbearing age, are found to be mainly affected by this condition. In most cases, the disease disappears on its own, after menopause. What is Adenomyosis? The uterine wall consists of two layers - the inner endometrium and the outer myometrium. The inner layer called endometrium is responsible for the menstrual flow, which is shedding of its superficial layers. These layers are later regenerated by the deeper layers of the endometrium, and this process continues as monthly cycles, till menopause. The outer layer of the uterine wall, called myometrium, is a relatively thick muscle wall. The muscular activity of this layer is very important for expelling the baby during childbirth, and also for expelling blood clots during menstruation. In normal women, these two layers of the uterine wall do not mix up. However, in case of adenomyosis, the tissue that lines the inner layers of the uterus or the endometrium, grows into the outer muscular wall (myometrium). In short, adenomyosis is a condition characterized by the presence of endometrial cells in the myometrium. In the myometrium, these endometrial cells bleed during menstruation, and the blood gets accumulated, thereby causing inflammation of the surrounding muscle walls. Such swollen area is called adenomyoma, which is often confused with uterine fibroids. Adenomyosis can be either focal or in a diffused state. In case of focal adenomyosis, certain areas of the uterine wall get inflamed; but if it is diffused, the whole uterine wall can get affected, and the uterus gets heavy and bulky. This condition is often confused with endometriosis. Endometrial cells grow outside the uterus, and is usually found in fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the tissues that line the pelvis. As adenomyosis occurs inside the uterus itself, this condition is otherwise called internal endometriosis. It is also noted that, women affected by endometriosis often have adenomyosis too. The causes for this condition are still unknown. It said that, childbirth, cesarean sections, tubal ligations, and pregnancy terminations may cause adenomyosis. In short, any injury to the uterus, which results in breaking the barrier between the endometrium and the myometrium, may cause this condition. It is also contended that, variations in the level of estrogen is responsible for adenomyosis. Symptoms Mild forms of adenomyosis are often asymptomatic and cause minor discomfort. However, severe forms may cause heavy menstrual bleeding (with more blood clots), along with sharp pelvic pain and cramping. Symptoms of adenomyosis, like pain and cramps may extend throughout the periods and may worsen with age. As the blood gets trapped within the muscles, there are chances that it escapes through the cervix, and this causes prolonged spotting or bleeding between periods. The affected women may also experience symptoms, like pain during intercourse. In some cases, the uterus of the affected women may get enlarged and the lower abdomen becomes bigger and tender. Adenomyosis is a condition, which usually resolves with menopause. The mode of treatment may vary with the severity of the condition. Usually, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone therapy and hysterectomy, are recommended for those with adenomyosis. If you have severe symptoms and menopause is years away, hysterectomy is the only cure. So the treatment is based on the symptoms, the severity of the condition and age. However, this is a benign condition, which resolves itself with menopause. In most cases, this condition is considered harmless and not life-threatening. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.