Adenomyosis and Fertility: What Patients Need to Know

Adenomyosis and Fertility: What Patients Need to Know

Adenomyosis is a common but often misunderstood uterine condition that can quietly affect fertility. For patients trying to conceive—especially those facing unexplained infertility, IVF failure, or recurrent pregnancy loss—understanding how adenomyosis impacts fertility is an important step toward better treatment planning.

What Is Adenomyosis?

Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (the myometrium). This causes the uterus to become enlarged and inflamed, particularly during the menstrual cycle.

Unlike endometriosis, which occurs outside the uterus, adenomyosis affects the uterine muscle itself—making it especially relevant for implantation and pregnancy.

Common Symptoms (and Why It’s Often Missed)

Some patients with adenomyosis experience:

• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Painful periods
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Bloating or uterine tenderness

However, many patients have mild or no symptoms, which is why adenomyosis is frequently underdiagnosed—especially in younger patients or those without classic signs.

How Adenomyosis Affects Fertility

Adenomyosis can interfere with fertility in several ways:

• Impaired implantation: Chronic inflammation alters the uterine environment and endometrial receptivity
• Abnormal uterine contractions: Changes in the uterine muscle may disrupt embryo implantation
• Inflammatory signaling: Elevated inflammatory markers can affect embryo development
• Higher miscarriage risk: Studies suggest increased rates of early pregnancy loss

In IVF patients, adenomyosis has been associated with lower implantation and live birth rates, even when high-quality embryos are used.

How Is Adenomyosis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis typically involves:

• High-resolution transvaginal ultrasound
• Pelvic MRI (especially for subtle or diffuse disease)

Unlike fibroids, adenomyosis does not form a distinct mass, which is why expert imaging interpretation is essential.

Treatment Options When Fertility Is a Goal

Treatment is highly individualized and depends on symptom severity, age, and fertility plans. Options may include:

• Hormonal suppression (such as GnRH agonists or progestins) prior to embryo transfer
• Extended downregulation before IVF or FET to reduce inflammation
• Anti-inflammatory strategies as part of a comprehensive fertility plan
• Surgical intervention in select cases, though this is less common and carefully considered

Many patients with adenomyosis can still conceive—especially when treatment is tailored to address the uterine environment before transfer.

When Should Patients Ask About Adenomyosis?

You may want to discuss adenomyosis with your provider if you have:

• Painful or heavy periods
• Unexplained infertility
• Recurrent implantation failure
• Recurrent pregnancy loss
• IVF cycles with good-quality embryos but poor outcomes

Early identification allows for better treatment timing and improved chances of success.

The Bottom Line

Adenomyosis doesn’t mean pregnancy isn’t possible—but it does mean the uterus may need extra support. With accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment, many patients go on to achieve healthy pregnancies.

If fertility treatment hasn’t gone as expected, taking a closer look at uterine factors like adenomyosis may provide important answers—and new options moving forward.