Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a uterine condition in which endometrial tissue is present within the muscular wall of the uterus. It can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods, and an enlarged uterus.

Endometrium: The inner lining of the uterus, which changes during the menstrual cycle and is shed during menstruation. The tissue found within the uterine muscle in adenomyosis normally lines this surface.
Uterus: The hollow muscular organ in which a pregnancy can develop. Adenomyosis occurs in the wall of this organ.
Transvaginal ultrasonography: An imaging examination that uses an ultrasound probe placed in the vagina to view pelvic organs. It is a common first-line imaging method when adenomyosis is suspected.
Pathogenesis: The biological processes through which a disease develops and progresses. The precise processes that produce adenomyosis remain incompletely understood.
Myometrium: The thick layer of smooth muscle forming most of the uterine wall. Adenomyosis involves endometrial tissue within this muscular layer.
Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It is distinct from adenomyosis, though the conditions can coexist and share symptoms.
Magnetic resonance imaging: An imaging method that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the body. It can help characterize uterine changes when ultrasound findings are unclear.
Junctional zone: The inner region of the uterine muscle adjoining the endometrium. Changes in this boundary region are linked to theories about adenomyosis development.
Menstrual cycle: The recurring hormonal and bodily changes that prepare the reproductive system for pregnancy. Cyclical changes in affected tissue are associated with bleeding and pain.
Uterine fibroid: A benign growth made of smooth muscle and connective tissue in or around the uterus. Fibroids can also cause heavy bleeding and uterine enlargement, but are discrete growths.

Linked from 7 pages