EINDHOVEN (ANP) – Women with uterine adenomyosis are more likely to experience problems during pregnancy. For example, they are at a higher risk of preeclampsia or hypertension, concludes research doctor Connie Rees of the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven in a new study. Additionally, they may need a C-section and may have a baby with a low birth weight.
According to the hospital, it is the largest study on the condition and problems of pregnancy to date. In his study, Rees compared 7,925 pregnant women with adenomyosis with nearly 5 million women without the condition who were pregnant between 1995 and today. It was recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Adenomyosis is a form of endometriosis, in which endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus.
In adenomyosis, this type of tissue grows into the muscle layer of the uterus. It occurs in a small area of the uterus or spreads over the entire wall of the uterus. It can cause annoying discomfort during menstruation, such as a lot of pain or heavy bleeding. Additionally, the condition can lead to fertility problems. However, some women with adenomyosis have no symptoms at all.
The uterine condition can be treated with medications or surgery. However, it’s not always clear whether someone has adenomyosis. According to a previous international study, not all cases are diagnosed and there’s a good chance that there are actually more people out and about with the condition.
