The treatment of adenomyosis depends on factors, such as the severity of symptoms and how close the woman is to menopause.
The treatment options include:
- Medications to control pain: These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Hormonal medications: They include birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs, especially the progesterone containing IUDs), hormone-containing patches and vaginal rings. The doctor may prescribe leuprolide, which is a medicine to stop ovaries from producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
- Uterine artery embolization: This is a surgical procedure in which particles are guided through a tiny tube inserted by the radiologist into the patient’s thigh to cut off blood supply to the adenomyosis. This shrinks the abnormal tissue and controls the symptoms.
- Endometrial ablation: This is a surgical procedure to destroy or scar the lining of the uterus.
- Hysterectomy: If none of the conservative options control the symptoms, a hysterectomy may be done.
