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Hello, this is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. # What Is the Difference Between Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis? Could It Be an Abnormal Signal from My Body? "My menstrual cramps are so severe that I rely on painkillers." "My menstrual flow keeps increasing and even caused anemia." These are symptoms that any woman might experience at some point, but many dismiss them as mere menstrual cramps or heavy flow, discovering uterine conditions belatedly. In particular, uterine myoma and adenomyosis are common, but their similar symptoms make them easy to confuse. Uterine myoma is a benign tumor occurring in the uterine smooth muscle, while adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue infiltrates the uterine muscle layer, thickening the uterine wall. Both conditions can significantly degrade the quality of life for women of childbearing age, making accurate understanding and appropriate treatment essential. 💡 **[Key Answer]** The 3 biggest differences between **uterine myoma and adenomyosis**: ① **Occurrence Site and Pattern**: Myomas form lump-like masses, while adenomyosis thickens the entire uterine wall. ② **Symptom Expression**: Myomas often present with bleeding, while adenomyosis commonly presents with both severe pain and bleeding. ③ **Oriental Medicine Treatment Approach**: Focused on constitutional improvement through blood stasis removal and uterine environment enhancement. Dalimchae Clinic creates a healthy uterus that not only extinguishes symptoms through **constitutional improvement** but prevents them from turning back on. ## What Are the Exact Differences Between Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis? Uterine myoma and adenomyosis are both women's conditions occurring in the uterus, but they show clear differences in presentation and lesion shape. Uterine myoma is a benign tumor caused by abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells making up most of the uterus, appearing in lump forms commonly called 'fibroids'. These fibroids can occur anywhere in the uterus and vary in size and number. Conversely, adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue abnormally invades the uterine muscle layer, thickening the entire uterine wall. Simply put, fibroids form 'dot-like lumps', while adenomyosis affects 'the entire uterus like a sheet'. Due to these differences, the two conditions may also differ in diagnosis and treatment approach. ## Could It Be Me Too? Major Symptom Checklist for Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis Uterine myoma and adenomyosis cause various symptoms, and some are similar, making them difficult to distinguish easily. However, they may differ in the intensity and pattern of specific symptoms. Check your own symptoms through the checklist below, and if any items apply, it is recommended to consult a specialist. **[Major Symptom Checklist for Uterine Myoma / Adenomyosis]** * Menstrual flow becomes abnormally heavy and the menstrual period lengthens. * Severe menstrual cramps make daily life difficult and are hard to endure without painkillers. * Menstrual blood contains many clots and turns dark red. * Irregular spotting or breakthrough bleeding occurs outside the menstrual period. * Chronic pain or pressure is felt in the pelvic region. * Frequent urination (pollakiuria) or sudden urges (urgency) occur. * Discomfort during defecation or severe constipation appears. * Back pain is frequent and the lower abdomen feels uncomfortably bloated. * Fatigue, dizziness, and anemia symptoms occur for no special reason. * Pregnancy is difficult or there is a history of miscarriage. **[Diagnosis Criteria and Recommendations]** * **3 or more items apply:** Precise diagnosis and consultation regarding uterine health are recommended. * **5 or more items apply:** Uterine myoma or adenomyosis can be strongly suspected, so visiting Songdo women's disease Korean medicine clinic for immediate consultation and treatment planning is necessary. ## Why Do Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis Occur? Western Medical Perspective and Oriental Medicine Causes Although the exact causes of uterine myoma and adenomyosis are not fully elucidated, multiple factors are known to act complexly. Western medicine views them as largely influenced by estrogen, a female hormone. The tendency to decrease in size after menopause and the possibility of fibroids growing during pregnancy support this. Genetic factors, age, and obesity are also reported to have an influence. In oriental medicine, uterine myoma and adenomyosis are viewed as being caused by wastes such as 'blood stasis (瘀血)' and 'phlegm (痰飮)' accumulating inside the uterus. In particular, if the lower abdomen where the uterus is located becomes cold, damp, and chilly, pelvic blood circulation disorders occur, which form blood stasis and hinder the normal function and growth of uterine tissue. Stress, miscarriage, and post-uterine surgery sequelae can also act as factors blocking the qi and blood circulation of the uterus and worsening lesions. From this perspective, Dalimchae Clinic Songdo branch focuses not merely on suppressing symptoms, but on identifying the fundamental causes of uterine myomas and adenomyosis, improving the uterine environment healthily, and making the body capable of overcoming lesions on its own. ## How Do Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis Affect Pregnancy and Childbirth? Uterine myoma and adenomyosis can also significantly affect pregnancy and childbirth. In the case of uterine myomas, depending on the location of the myoma, it can hinder fertilized egg implantation and fetal growth; submucosal myomas in particular can be a direct cause of infertility or miscarriage. In addition, fibroids growing rapidly or undergoing degeneration during pregnancy can cause pain. Adenomyosis can also make implantation difficult by changing the endometrial environment as the uterine wall thickens and hardens, and in severe cases, becomes a cause of infertility or habitual miscarriage. According to recent research, the prevalence of adenomyosis in Korean women is increasing, and the importance of treatments preserving the uterus is further emphasized. Therefore, if planning pregnancy or experiencing infertility, checking for uterine myomas or adenomyosis and actively managing them is important. Many people seeking Songdo infertility Korean medicine clinics choose herbal medicine treatments to improve this uterine environment. ## How Does Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Treat Uterine Myoma and Adenomyosis? Dalimchae Clinic Songdo branch focuses on **constitutional improvement** treatments that resolve the fundamental causes of uterine myoma and adenomyosis and prevent recurrence. The goal is not to temporarily alleviate symptoms, but to restore body circulation and balance so the uterus can regain its health on its own. **① Herbal Medicine Prescriptions Tailored to Individual Uterine Environments:** Dalimchae Clinic prescribes herbal medicine tailored to each patient's constitution and the state of uterine myoma and adenomyosis through thorough diagnosis. We use medicinal herbs that remove blood stasis, improve lower abdomen blood circulation, reduce intra-uterine inflammation, and boost uterine immunity. Such herbal medicine treatments help inhibit lesion growth and alleviate symptoms. A randomized double-blind study published in the *Journal of Ethnopharmacology* in 2022 evaluated 78 premenopausal women aged 18 to 52 with uterine myoma symptoms administered Guizhifulingwan modified decoction for 16 weeks. The results showed significant improvements (p\<0.05) in uterine myoma symptom severity, functional impact of pelvic pain, TCM syndrome score, **myoma volume, and uterine status** compared to baseline in both standard and low-dose groups. Particularly, the low-dose group showed greater improvement in TCM syndrome score than the standard group (p=0.024), and no serious adverse events were reported. Researchers concluded that Guizhifulingwan modified decoction is safe for women with uterine myomas and significantly improves symptoms and myoma volume. Such research suggests that herbal medicine can be an effective alternative for reducing uterine myoma size and improving symptoms. **② Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatments to Improve Lower Abdomen Circulation:** Uterine conditions such as adenomyosis are closely related to lower abdomen circulation. Dalimchae Clinic uses acupuncture and moxibustion treatments to smooth qi and blood circulation in the lower abdomen, alleviate inflammation in the uterus and surrounding tissues, and help reduce pain. This is effective in reducing discomfort symptoms such as menstrual cramps and heavy flow caused by uterine myoma and adenomyosis. In fact, a case report by a research team at Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine published in *Frontiers in Medicine* in 2025 reported results from administering modified BuzhongYiqi-tang based herbal medicine for 12 months to a 40-year-old woman suffering from severe adenomyosis symptoms. After treatment, the menstrual pain numerical rating scale (NRS) dropped significantly from 7-8 to 1-2, and hemoglobin levels normalized. Ultrasound examination confirmed a decrease in adenomyosis lesions and improvement in uterine structure, and the patient's quality of life also markedly improved. Researchers suggested through this case that herbal medicine can be a safe and effective option for managing adenomyosis. **③ Constitutional Improvement to Cultivate Uterine Self-Healing Power:** Dalimchae Clinic's constitutional improvement aims not only to eliminate uterine myoma or adenomyosis, but to restore overall body balance so the uterus maintains a healthy state and diseases do not recur. By correcting body immunity and autonomic nervous system balance broken by irregular lifestyle habits, stress, and poor diet, we help the uterus overcome lesions on its own and perform healthy functions. Through this, related conditions such as menstrual pain, menstrual irregularity, and infertility can be improved together. Dalimchae Clinic provides specialized treatment for uterine health among Songdo Korean medicine clinics. --- **Q. Can uterine myoma and adenomyosis heal naturally?** A. For small uterine myomas without symptoms, observation without special treatment is possible, but adenomyosis is difficult to expect natural resolution due to lesion characteristics. Active management and treatment before symptoms worsen are important to suppress lesion progression and alleviate symptoms. **Q. Is pregnancy difficult if I have uterine myoma or adenomyosis?** A. Not necessarily, but it can affect pregnancy. Depending on the location and size of the myoma or the invasion degree of adenomyosis, possibilities of implantation hindrance, increased miscarriage risk, and premature birth exist. If planning pregnancy, consulting medical staff and considering oriental medical treatment for uterine environment improvement can be explored. **Q. How long should I receive oriental medical treatment to see effects?** A. Treatment duration may vary depending on individual disease state, symptom severity, constitution, etc. Generally, at least 3 to 6 months of steady treatment is required, proceeding customized while checking treatment progress through examinations. **Q. Are there recurrence risks after treating uterine myoma and adenomyosis?** A. For uterine myomas, recurrence rates after surgery can reach 50%, and adenomyosis is difficult to completely remove due to lesion characteristics. Dalimchae Clinic's constitutional improvement treatment goes beyond simply removing lesions, fundamentally improving the uterine environment to lower recurrence risk and maintain a healthy uterus. --- Uterine myoma and adenomyosis are not problems solved by enduring them. You no longer have to ignore the body signals sent for a long time. Approaching in the right direction makes the body react faster than expected. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing as they are. Dalimchae Clinic will find the causes together. The place where life blooms. Herbal medicine is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check symptoms similar to your own through Dalimchae Clinic website AI consultation first! Medical supervision | Women's and pregnancy care standard Dalimchae Clinic Songdo branch Korean medicine doctor Oh Hyun-min (Adenomyosis Column) #UterineMyoma #Adenomyosis #WomensHealth #MenstrualCramps #Infertility #ConstitutionalImprovement #SongdoUterineMyomaClinic #SongdoKoreanClinic Pregnancy & Postpartum - Infertility & Pregnancy Preparation