Title: Adenomyosis may be invisible, its impact is not

Adenomyosis affects at least one in ten women, a uterine condition characterized by heavy, irregular, and painful menstruation. The severity of the suffering can be intense; 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 adenomyosis and endometriosis, shared 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 grows into the muscular wall of the womb. Highlighting the societal response to such pain, a spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care told the BBC, "It is deeply concerning that so many women feel dismissed when they come forward with pain."

Warning: This article discusses distressing themes

While adenomyosis presents symptoms similar to endometriosis, the two are distinct. In endometriosis, tissue grows outside the womb, potentially affecting other areas of the body, whereas in adenomyosis, the growth is confined within the uterine wall.

Barker, who commands over 500,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, noted that her audience quickly identified with her shared symptoms. She was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 19 after undergoing laparoscopic surgery and received her adenomyosis diagnosis two years later.

For many, living with the condition is a source of significant frustration. Lauren Buckland, 36, experiences sudden, sharp pains in her uterus, lower back, hips, and pelvis. Recalling a particularly difficult moment, she said, "[Once] I was walking home from work, and I was in tears of pain and I didn't know what it was." Despite the challenges, she maintains a resilient perspective: "This is my body and it's not working how I'd like it to work, but I've got to work with it. It's a bit frustrating, but it's just being a woman, isn't it?"

Emma Blackburn, a 34-year-old from Broadstairs, Kent, lives with constant pain, which she likens to "labour pain" that shoots into her pelvis. Blackburn, who also suffers from endometriosis and fibromyalgia, structures her life around her menstrual cycle. She reports passing clots every cycle, varying in size from that of a 5p to a 50p coin. She advocates for greater public understanding of women's health conditions, emphasizing their profound physical and mental health implications.

Workplace stigma

Lesley Salem, founder of the workplace training organization Over the Bloody Moon, stresses the need to ensure that hormonal and menstrual health issues do not hinder professional lives. She points out that a lack of awareness regarding menstrual health persists, and that educational changes are essential. Salem acknowledges that workplace stigma remains a significant barrier, causing many women, particularly those early in their careers, to fear sharing their struggles.

Experts unanimously agree that increased education and research are critical. Dr. Rebecca Mallick, a consultant gynaecologist at University Hospitals Sussex, states, "It all starts with education on all levels." She argues that menstruation should be discussed from a young age to normalize the understanding that periods which disrupt daily functioning are not typical.

Historically, adenomyosis has been difficult to diagnose because a hysterectomy was previously the only method to properly analyze the uterus, and the condition does not always appear on scans. However, research is underway to improve detection methods. Dr. Marianne Watters, a clinical researcher with Wellbeing of Women, is investigating whether blood samples can identify the condition. She envisions a future where women might use at-home testing kits.

"I hope that in the future we'll be able to improve on the ways that we currently diagnose," Watters says. "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 psychological toll of misdiagnosis is significant. Zara Dedman, 38, from Kent, says 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