Dysmenorrhea is arguably the most common gynecological symptom that rarely requires treatment, so the vast majority of women ignore it, believing that it’s okay if it’s a woman. However, be alert to the fact that there is a hidden secondary form of dysmenorrhea that will lead to serious consequences if not actively treated! It is adenomyosis. What is adenomyosis? It is the invasion of the endometrial glands and mesenchyme into the myometrium to form a diffuse or limited lesion. In layman’s terms, it means that the endometrium has grown in the wrong place and has run into the myometrium. Adenomyosis usually occurs in menstruating women between the ages of 30 and 50, but occasionally it can be seen in younger women who have not had children. What are the dangers of adenomyosis? First of all, the most painful thing is, of course, menstrual pain. The endometrium that grows in the wrong place bleeds when you have your period, but because it is located inside the myometrium, it causes increased uterine tension and stimulates the myometrium to contract, which can cause menstrual pain. Therefore, in adenomyosis, menstrual pain occurs before and during each menstrual period, and it is so severe that it seriously affects rest and work, and you often have to take strong painkillers to relieve it. If the lesion is severe, the pain will be present even if it is not during menstruation. Secondly, the uterus is larger than normal and the area of the endometrium is larger, resulting in excessive menstrual bleeding and prolonged periods. This can lead to anemia if it is prolonged. In women who have not had children, the ectopic endometrial tissue can cause extensive adhesions in the pelvic cavity, leading to tubal incompetence resulting in infertility. Treatment of adenomyosis used to be troublesome, with medication being ineffective and surgical treatment usually requiring removal of the uterus to cure it. As we all know, the removal of the uterus is not only harmful to women, but also causes constipation and urinary incontinence due to the loss of the iconic female organ and the inability to reproduce. So what should I do? As with fibroids, an uncomplicated procedure called “uterine artery embolization” can solve this problem. Most fibroids are vascular diseases, and the growth of the lesions requires blood supply and stimulation by estrogen, progesterone and other growth factors in the blood. What is required for interventional embolization treatment is to cut small holes the size of a grain of rice at the root of one thigh, insert a special catheter into the blood supply artery of the uterus, and block its blood vessels with drugs for the purpose of starving it. Since the myometrium is resistant to hypoxia, while the endometrium that grows in the wrong place is not, a better treatment effect can be achieved. After the catheter is removed, there is only a small puncture wound in the leg, which does not require special treatment, and you are free to move around after 12 hours. This type of procedure is relatively simple and can usually be done in any hospital that performs interventional treatment. Therefore, women who suffer from menstrual pain should not neglect their health and be alert to adenomyosis. In case it is, there is no need to worry, interventional treatment can help you beat it easily!