Title: 'Adenomyosis may be invisible, its impact is not'

Adenomyosis, a uterine disorder affecting at least one in ten women, can trigger severe, irregular, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The intensity of the discomfort can be overwhelming; one patient described the sensation as having a "chainsaw" operating inside her. Mathilde Barker, a 22-year-old content creator from Surrey who suffers from both endometriosis and adenomyosis, recounted her experience: "When I was at my worst, it genuinely felt like I had a mass in my uterus and that it was dragging behind me."

The condition occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus begins to grow into the muscular wall of the womb. A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care expressed concern to the BBC, stating, "It is deeply concerning that so many women feel dismissed when they come forward with pain."

Warning: This article discusses distressing themes

While adenomyosis shares many symptoms with endometriosis, the two are distinct. In endometriosis, tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the womb, potentially affecting other parts of the body. In contrast, adenomyosis involves growth strictly within the womb. Barker, who has amassed over 500,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, noted that her audience quickly resonated with her symptoms. She was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 19 after undergoing keyhole surgery, with adenomyosis identified two years later.

For many women, managing the condition is a source of significant frustration. Lauren Buckland, 36, experiences sudden, sharp pains in her uterus, lower back, hips, and pelvis. She recalled a moment while walking home from work where she was "in tears of pain" and confused by the source of the suffering. "This is my body and it's not working how I'd like it to work, but I've got to work with it," Buckland said. "It's a bit frustrating, but it's just being a woman, isn't it?"

Emma Blackburn, a 34-year-old from Broadstairs in Kent, lives with constant pain due to adenomyosis, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. She describes the discomfort as sudden, intense episodes resembling "labour pain" that radiate into her pelvis. Consequently, Blackburn structures her life around her menstrual cycle. She also reports passing clots every cycle, ranging in size from a 5p to a 50p coin.

Workplace 'stigma'

Blackburn advocates for greater public education regarding women’s health, particularly regarding the physical and mental toll these conditions take. Lesley Salem, founder of the workplace training organization Over the Bloody Moon, aims to ensure that hormonal and menstrual health issues do not hinder professional progress. Salem highlights a general lack of awareness and emphasizes that change must begin with education. She acknowledges that a workplace stigma persists, causing many women, particularly those early in their careers, to fear sharing their health struggles.

Experts agree that increased research and education are critical. Dr. Rebecca Mallick, a consultant gynecologist at University Hospitals Sussex, stated, "It all starts with education on all levels." She argued that menstruation should be discussed from a young age to establish the understanding that periods disrupting daily life are not normal.

Historically, diagnosing adenomyosis has been challenging because a hysterectomy was previously the only definitive method for analysis. Additionally, the condition is not always visible on standard scans. Current research aims to improve diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Marianne Watters, a clinical researcher with Wellbeing of Women, is investigating whether adenomyosis can be detected through blood samples. She envisions a future where women might use at-home testing kits to identify the condition. "I hope that in the future we'll be able to improve on the ways that we currently diagnose," Watters said. "It is really surprising that we don't know more about this condition and that it's not more openly talked about in the public."

The emotional toll of misdiagnosis or dismissal is significant. Zara Dedman, 38, from Kent, said that being "fobbed off" by doctors has severely impacted her mental health. "Each day, every month, I am hav

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-20 05:10:39 UTC