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Home › Articles › Diagnosed Infertility Issues › Uterine Factors

Uterine Factors

How Abnormalities of the Uterus Contribute to Infertility

By Gwen Morrison

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Usually the symptom most present is the lack of menstruation following an instrumented curettage. It is not as easy to detect a partial Asherman's, unless an HSG (hysterosalpingogram) is done to check out the uterine cavity. Usually women who have a decreased flow after curettage will go on to have this X-ray done to rule out Asherman's.

"Treatment is usually very successful," Dr. Pollycove says. "A hysteroscopic surgical procedure is done to remove the scar tissue bands and also replenish the endometrial surface tissue with estrogenic hormone support. Sometimes an IUD is also placed to help prevent reforming of scar tissue between the walls of the cavity."

Adenomyosis
Experts describe adenomyosis as a benign disease of the uterus in which components that are normally limited to the endometrium (the innermost layer of the uterus) are found within the myometrium (the middle, muscular layer of the uterus). Adenomyosis is a very similar condition to endometriosis. In both of these conditions, the uterine lining grows where it shouldn't, and both are considered progressive (will continue to grow). Where they differ is that adenomyosis confines itself specifically to the uterine wall.

Though the medical experts don't know what causes adenomyosis, they do feel that it is unrelated to endometriosis. Adenomyosis generally afflicts women between the ages of 40 and 50.

Symptoms of adenomyosis, according to the Center for Uterine Fibroids in Boston, Mass., include abnormal uterine bleeding and pelvic pain. In approximately 60 percent of the women with adenomyosis, there is abnormal uterine bleeding, which is either hypermenorrhea (prolonged uterine bleeding) or metrorrgia (irregular bleeding). Pelvic pain during menstruation was cited as the second most common symptom in patients with adenomyosis.

According to the Center for Uerine Fibroids, adenomyosis can also be connected with other uterine disorders. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of women with adenomyosis have been diagnosed with other uterine disorders. Fibroids have been found in 50 percent of the patients; 11 percent of women are diagnosed with endometriosis and 7 percent have endometrial polyps. It is often the symptoms of these other disorders that can obscure the initial finding of adenomyosis in patients.


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