BBC Breakfast star Naga Munchetty has bravely spoken out about living with adenomyosis, which causes her to “scream” in pain - but what actually is the debilitating womb condition?
Around one in 10 women in the UK have adenomyosis, which occurs when the womb lining (the endometrium) grows within the muscular wall of the womb too.
While the condition is not life-threatening, the frequent pain and uncomfortable symptoms can have a negative impact on a woman’s quality of life. Naga has bravely told how she suffers from “constant, nagging pain” whilst at work, adding: “I'll have some level of pain for the entire show and for the rest of the day until I go to sleep."
The 49-year-old broadcaster detailed a flare-up of adenomyosis on the weekend, which got so bad that her husband called an ambulance for her. Speaking to her BBC Radio 5 Live listeners, Naga said: "The pain was so terrible I couldn't move, turn over, sit up. I screamed non-stop for 45 minutes."
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She explained that she regularly suffers pain in her uterus, pelvis and occasionally down her thighs. The presenter said she had struggled to obtain a diagnosis and treatment after decades of agonising, heavy 10-day periods that sometimes made her pass out.
Often labelled the ‘evil sister’ of endometriosis, the condition can cause severe symptoms, including period pain and bloating. Here's everything you need to know.
Symptoms of adenomyosis
Around one in three people with adenomyosis don’t have any symptoms, while others may suffer from a number of warning signs. According to the NHS and John Hopkins Medicine, these can include:
Heavy periods that last for a long time
Severe period pain
A feeling of pressure in your tummy
Bloating (your tummy sticks out more than normal)
Enlarged uterus
Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
Pelvic pain
Severe cramps during periods (dysmenorrhea)
Infertility.
The Mayo Clinic recommends visiting a doctor if you have “prolonged, heavy bleeding or severe cramping during your periods that interferes with your regular activities”.
An NHS spokesperson added: “We strongly encourage any woman concerned about their health to speak to their GP. GPs should keep up to date with the latest Nice guidance on this condition so a speedy diagnosis and appropriate treatments can be carried out.”
What causes adenomyosis?
It's not known exactly why adenomyosis happens, but there are a number of risk factors that have been linked to the condition.
Adenomyosis most commonly occurs in women who:
Are aged between 35 and 50 - the major symptoms of adenomyosis usually go away after menopause
Have given birth at least once
Had had previous uterine surgeries, such as uterine fibroid removal or dilation and curettage (D&C)
Have endometriosis
Cleveland Clinic writes: “Providers are diagnosing adenomyosis more frequently in people in their 30s who have abnormal vaginal bleeding or painful periods.”
How is adenomyosis diagnosed?
When you visit your doctor about symptoms, they will carry out a pelvic examination, where they look at your vulva, vagina and cervix to see if there is something that could be causing your symptoms.
The NHS explains that you could be referred to a specialist who’ll carry out more tests, these can include an ultrasound or an MRI, which will allow a doctor to look at your womb.
Treatment options
Possible treatment options include anti-inflammatory medication, hormone therapy and treatment to help reduce the amount of menstrual blood loss. In more extreme cases, women can have surgery to remove the womb - known as a hysterectomy - though this is not suitable for younger women who are hoping to conceive naturally.
Jo Hanley, from Endometriosis UK, warned about the limited guidelines for the diagnosis and management of adenomyosis, adding: “The lack of awareness, guidelines and research available for healthcare practitioners will filter down to the general public.”
Naga said she was told by doctors that she was “just unlucky”, and had to adapt her life to manage the symptoms, which included setting alarms throughout the night to replace her tampon. She highlighted that there is still no dedicated NHS page for adenomyosis.
