Diagnosis

Some other uterine conditions can cause signs and symptoms similar to those of adenomyosis, making adenomyosis difficult to diagnose. These conditions include fibroid tumors (leiomyomas), uterine cells growing outside the uterus (endometriosis) and growths in the uterine lining (endometrial polyps).

Your doctor might conclude that you have adenomyosis only after ruling out other possible causes for your signs and symptoms.

Your doctor may suspect adenomyosis based on:

• Signs and symptoms
• A pelvic exam that reveals an enlarged, tender uterus
• Ultrasound imaging of the uterus
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the uterus

In some instances, your doctor might collect a sample of uterine tissue for testing (endometrial biopsy) to make sure you don't have a more serious condition. But an endometrial biopsy won't help your doctor confirm a diagnosis of adenomyosis.

Pelvic imaging such as ultrasound and MRI can detect signs of adenomyosis, but the only way to confirm it is to examine the uterus after hysterectomy.