01
Understanding adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is different from endometriosis, although both can occur together. Because symptoms can overlap with other conditions, diagnosis belongs with a qualified healthcare professional.
Tracking bleeding, pain and impact across several cycles can make changes and recurring patterns easier to describe at an appointment.
02
What might be worth noticing?
Experiences vary. These are prompts for a conversation, not a checklist for self-diagnosis.
- Heavy, prolonged or painful periods
- Pelvic pain, pressure or a heavy feeling
- Pain during sex
- Fatigue, dizziness or breathlessness that may accompany heavy bleeding
03
What should I track before an appointment?
Track only what is useful and manageable. A simple, consistent record is more helpful than a perfect one.
- 01Cycle dates and how long bleeding lasts
- 02How often period products are changed or emptied
- 03Clots, flooding or bleeding through clothing or bedding
- 04Pain, pressure, sex and movement
- 05Energy, dizziness, sleep and daily-life impact
- 06Treatments tried and whether they helped
04
Questions you could take to your doctor
- “What else could cause this combination of bleeding and pain?”
- “Would an ultrasound, MRI or blood test be appropriate?”
- “Should I be checked for iron deficiency or anaemia?”
- “How do treatment choices change if pregnancy is important to me?”
Appointment tip: lead with the change that worries you most, how long it has been happening and what it stops you doing.
05
How can this affect mental and emotional wellbeing?
Heavy bleeding and pain can disrupt sleep, work, intimacy and confidence in leaving home. Recording those effects gives your clinician information about severity that blood-loss estimates alone may miss.
06
When should I seek medical help?
- See your doctor when painful or heavy periods affect daily life or you have ongoing pelvic pain.
- Seek urgent care for very heavy bleeding with faintness, dizziness, shortness of breath or severe pain.
This guidance is general. If you are unsure what to do, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse in Australia.
07
Sources and further reading
We used these Australian health sources to check the factual information in this guide.