Question
I was recently diagnosed with adenomyosis. How does this affect me if my husband and I want to have a baby? How much chance do I have of getting pregnant?
Answer
Adenomyosis refers to a condition where endometrial glands and connective tissue are present within the muscle layer of the uterus. This results in hyperplasia, or overgrowth, of the uterine muscle layer and a generalized enlargement in the size of the uterus (usually not larger than the size of a 12-week pregnant uterus).
It is important to know that a definitive diagnosis of adenomyosis cannot be made without a tissue sample, usually obtained at the time of hysterectomy. If a patient has an enlarged uterus without evidence of fibroids and pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding, a physician may make a presumptive diagnosis of adenomyosis. An examination with MRI may be useful in making this diagnosis.
Some experts believe that about 20 percent of women may have adenomyosis. But to answer your question, there is no definitive evidence that adenomyosis adversely affects the ability to become pregnant or the ability to carry a pregnancy to term. It is generally a condition that results in painful periods or heavy menstrual bleeding, but not infertility or adverse pregnancy outcomes.