BBC broadcaster Naga Munchetty has opened up about suffering years of severe period pain due to adenomyosis – a women’s health condition that affects around 1 in 8 women in the UK.
She blames ‘medical misogyny’, which she says contributed to her being undiagnosed for 32 years. Naga has been speaking out about how female health concerns are often ignored - saying she was made to feel she ‘simply needed to tough it out’.
Unfortunately, Naga’s experiences are not uncommon - many women with adenomyosis are often left undiagnosed, despite years of suffering heavy periods and extreme pain. We take a look behind the headlines, to explore why Naga has chosen to speak out. We examine what adenomyosis actually is, its common symptoms, how it’s diagnosed and the treatment options available.
Why has Naga Munchetty been speaking out?
Naga Munchetty has appeared across the media, including on ITV’s Lorraine and BBC Woman’s Hour, and written a book, ‘It’s Probably Nothing’: Critical Conversations About the Women’s Health Crisis, about her experiences and those of others whose health issues are ignored. She says that she was repeatedly failed by doctors and was ‘never taken seriously’, despite extreme heavy periods, vomiting, and pain so severe that she would faint.
Naga was diagnosed in 2022 with adenomyosis, but, shockingly, remained undiagnosed for decades, and was told she ‘just had to get on with it’. Now, with her new book she wants to both empower women and highlight the fact that female health issues are still routinely downplayed or dismissed compared to men’s.
What is adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is a condition where the lining of your womb starts growing into the muscle wall of the womb, sometimes spreading outside. It can cause your uterus to sometimes double or triple in size, causing heavy periods, clotting and severe pain.
Although the condition is not life threatening, its symptoms can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life. For example, it can affect your ability to work, as well as your relationships and your mental health - so it’s important to get the support and treatment you need.
Who does adenomyosis affect?
You may not realise that you have adenomyosis as it doesn’t always cause symptoms, and therefore experts don’t have exact figures for the condition.
However, adenomyosis occurs more frequently in women who:
- Have had a procedure on their womb, such as fibroid removal or a D&C (dilation and curettage)
- Have endometriosis
- Are between 30 and 50
It can also affect teenagers. Naga’s symptoms began when she was 15, and around 2-5% of adolescents who have painful or heavy periods will have adenomyosis.
What are the symptoms of adenomyosis?
It’s possible to have adenomyosis without any symptoms and this is the case for around 1 in 3 women. Others however can experience symptoms that have a significant impact on the quality of their lives. These can include:
- Severe period pain
- Heavy periods that last a long time
- Pelvic pain
- A feeling of pressure in your stomach
- Bloating
- Pain during sex
- Problems conceiving
What causes adenomyosis?
It’s not clear what exactly causes adenomyosis. Experts believe it can be due to several factors, such as hormones, genetics, inflammation or trauma. Although it can be debilitating, it can be reassuring to know that it is not cancerous.
Why is adenomyosis underdiagnosed?
Naga Munchetty has described being ignored and told to ‘get on with it’, when she complained of severe period pain and associated symptoms of adenomyosis. This sadly has been the case for thousands of women, and there is still, unfortunately, a culture of minimising women’s health concerns.
The Guardian and BBC, among numerous others, have repeatedly highlighted the problem of a ‘gender health gap and experts have warned how women are routinely “gaslighted”, “fobbed off” or dismissed as “difficult" for raising concerns about their symptoms.
How is adenomyosis diagnosed?
Our women’s health team of Consultant Gynaecologists and GPs are all highly experienced at diagnosing a range of gynaecological conditions. We understand the impact that symptoms such as heavy bleeding and severe pain can have on your life.
We always take enough time to thoroughly discuss your medical history and understand your symptoms. We then carry out a pelvic examination, to check if your womb is enlarged, softer, or painful to the touch.
We may, but not always, then carry out a transvaginal ultrasound scan – this can sometimes show a thickening of the muscle wall of the womb. An MRI may also be advised – to provide further information and to rule out any other health conditions.
Is adenomyosis different from endometriosis?
One of the problems diagnosing these conditions is that they both involve tissue from the lining of the womb and both can cause significant pain.
The key difference lies in where that tissue grows. In adenomyosis, the tissue grows into the muscle wall of the womb, while with endometriosis, it grows outside the womb, often affecting areas such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
What is the treatment for adenomyosis?
Treatment for adenomyosis varies very much from one woman to another and our specialists always take a personalised approach. We monitor you carefully, adjusting any medication over time, to ensure that your treatment plan is as effective as possible.
Treatment options may include:
- Anti inflammatories: for mild symptoms
- Hormonal medication: to help with heavy periods and pain – for example, the contraceptive pill or the Mirena coil can be very effective for some women
- Non-hormonal medication: to reduce the amount of bleeding
- Surgical interventions: if medication hasn’t worked, an adenomyomectomy may be recommended, to remove the adenomyosis from the muscular wall of your womb. A hysterectomy may also be considered, although only after all other options have been explored.
When might you want to see a gynaecologist at our clinic?
Many women, like Naga Munchetty, feel that they haven’t received the right support and treatment they need for their health concerns and symptoms. Maybe, like thousands of others, you've been waiting a long time for a gynaecology appointment, which we all know is extremely frustrating.
You'll be pleased to know that we have a team of women’s health specialists including leading Consultant Gynaecologists and GPs who are experts in a range of women’s health conditions, including adenomyosis.
We understand how hard it can be living with symptoms such as extreme pain and heavy bleeding, year after year. We are here to help, with empathetic care and the highest levels of expertise. We provide prompt diagnosis and the latest in evidence-based treatment, so that you can begin to live your life again as fully as possible.
Visit our London clinic for your adenomyosis symptoms
We’re here to offer expert treatment, with appointments often available at short notice. To learn more about how our women’s health specialists can help diagnose and treat your symptoms, please call 020 7244 4200 or make an appointment online