EINDHOVEN (ANP) – Women with the uterine condition adenomyosis are more likely to experience problems in their pregnancy. For example, they run an increased risk of preeclampsia or high blood pressure, concludes doctor-researcher Connie Rees of the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven in a new study. Also, they may need to have a caesarean section and may have a baby with a low birth weight.
According to the hospital, it is the largest study into the condition and pregnancy problems to date. In her study, Rees compared 7,925 pregnant women with adenomyosis to nearly 5 million women without the condition who were pregnant between 1995 and now. It was recently published in the scientific journal American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Adenomyosis is a form of endometriosis, in which tissue similar to the endometrium grows outside the uterus.
In adenomyosis, this type of tissue grows in the muscle layer of the uterus. It occurs in a small area of the uterus or spread over the entire wall of the uterus. It can cause annoying complaints during menstruation, such as a lot of pain or heavy blood loss. In addition, the condition may lead to fertility problems. However, some women with adenomyosis have no symptoms at all.
The uterine condition can be treated with medication or surgery. However, it is not always clear whether someone has adenomyosis. According to a previous international study, not all cases are diagnosed and there is a good chance that there are actually more people walking around with the condition.