Adenomyosis: 5 things you need to know about the ‘evil twin sister’ of endometriosis
Despite increasing public awareness of endometriosis, with celebrity figureheads including Lena Dunham and Molly Mae, the condition’s ‘evil twin sister’, adenomyosis, remains neglected. While the NHS has an entire webpage which explains what endometriosis is, there is currently no equivalent for its sister condition. Read on for five things you should know. It’s not the same as endometriosis Both endometriosis and adenomyosis occur when the lining of the uterus (known as the endometrium) grows out of place, but there are major differences between the two. In endometriosis, the rogue tissue invades areas outside of the uterus. While the extent of the growth varies from patient to patient, it can affect areas such as the bladder, bowel, ovaries, and even the lungs. Adenomyosis, on the other hand, causes the rogue tissue to bury inside the muscular wall of the uterus. It’s possible to suffer from both conditions at the same time. Symptoms include bloating, heavy periods, and pelvic pain Thanks to the invasive endometrial growth, adenomyosis is characterised by an enlarged uterus. During menstruation, the embedded tissue swells and bleeds, typically causing a variety of symptoms (although some women are asymptomatic). According to a patient leaflet published by University College Hospital, sufferers commonly have painful and irregular periods, with more than half experiencing heavy bleeding. Chronic pre-menstrual pain, and feelings of heaviness and discomfort in the pelvis are among other possible symptoms. Less frequently, adenomyosis can cause bloating, pain during intercourse, and pain related to bowel movements. All symptoms should stop after the menopause. It affects 1 in 10 women The condition is believed to affect 10 per cent of women in the UK. That makes it just as prevalent as endometriosis, although it’s more common in women between the ages of 40-50, and those who have been pregnant before. While the cause of the condition is not known, UCH says that “genetics and some hormones may play a role”. In terms of long-term effects, the North Bristol NHS trust says that adenomyosis does not appear to decrease the chance of pregnancy, however it has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth. Treatment options are limited For women with mild symptoms, trying to get pregnant, or nearing menopause, the North Bristol trust says that treatment may not be necessary, but for those seeking relief from symptoms, it recommends medication to reduce pain and bleeding, and hormonal interventions such as the contraceptive pill. The only “cure” is a surgical procedure involving the removal of the womb (hysterectomy), although this is a last resort intervention. The Bristol-based trust also offers an alternative surgery which involves blocking the blood supply to the endometrial growth, forcing it to shrink, but neither procedure is advisable for women who want to get pregnant in the future. It can take years to diagnose The condition is typically diagnosed using MRI and ultrasound scans, but the NHS says that adenomyosis can take “a long time, even years, to diagnose” because “symptoms and severity can vary between women”. The frequent dismissal of women’s gynaecological symptoms means that signs of adenomyosis may be conflated with ‘normal’ menstruation, or even other conditions such as endometriosis. Anecdotal reports of sufferers suggest that misdiagnosis is common. Gabrielle Union, one of the only celebrities to have publicly identified as having the condition, suspects her condition went undiagnosed for years. Speaking at a conference in 2019, Union explained: “The gag is I had [adenomyosis] in my early twenties, and instead of someone diagnosing me they were like ‘Oh you have periods that last nine or 10 days and you’re bleeding through overnight pads? Not a mere inconvenience... perhaps there’s something more there.’” Earlier this year, the charity Tommy’s reported that the condition might be “underdiagnosed” after a review of existing studies found that “mild” cases could be missed by clinicians using current diagnostic methods. “There should be training for clinicians and sonographers to diagnose adenomyosis using a standardised criteria,” said Dr Ishita Mishra, leader of the review. “Being able to identify this condition using a uniform set of criteria would then help give us a true picture of the numbers affected, and better understanding of the impact of this condition,” Mishra explained. If you have any health concerns, you should always contact your GP in the first instance. There is also information available via NHS Scotland or Endometriosis UK. Read More Lena Dunham marks five years of sobriety: ‘Happiest of my time on earth’ ‘Some days things just do not work’: What happens when your smear test doesn’t go smoothly? Woman’s warning after terminal cancer mistaken for heavy periods 5 things you need to know about adenomyosis, the ‘evil twin sister’ of endometriosis Woman’s warning after lip filler left her unable to close mouth ‘Suddenly, I saw Dad again’: The radical tech helping those living with dementia
1970-01-01 08:00
Mother speaks out after video about putting fake tan on baby goes viral
A mother has clarified that a video she made about giving her child a fake tan was a joke, after she faced a backlash over her footage. Kylen Suttner frequently posts videos on TikTok about her partner and their four-month-old child. In one clip, posted in March, she could be seen holding up her baby, while she appeared to have a serious look on her face. She also poked fun at the self-tanning product that she joked she used on her child, in the text over the video. “When everyone is telling me to stop self-tanning my baby but the loving tan employees have families to feed,” she wrote, referring to the popular self-tanning spray, Loving Tan. In the caption, Suttner added: “loving tan is our fave.” As the video quickly went viral, with more than 1m views, it sparked mixed responses. However, Suttner has now clarified that her video was actually a joke. During an interview with New York Post, she said that her baby had jaundice when he was born, which is what made his skin tan. According to the Cleveland Clinic, jaundice “a condition in which the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes turn yellow”. “Everyone commented on his colour, so I decided to make a joke about it. I would never actually use self tanner on my baby,” she said. “I feel like most people understood it was a joke. But the few who didn’t were appalled that I would self tan my baby.” Although Suttner made this clarification about her video, the clip was still hit with criticism regarding the use of using self-tanners on babies. “Disgusting! So horrible!” one wrote, while another added; “I can’t tell if this is a joke?” @kylensuttner loving tan is our fav #tan #selftan #selftanning #selftanday #lovingtan #babyboy #newborn #newbornnap #momtime #naptime #newbornbaby #newbornbabyboy #momtok #postpartumbody #postpartumrecovery #postpartum #fourthtrimester #4thtrimester #newmom #newmomtok #postpartumjourney #csectiondelivery #csection #csectionmom #csectionrecovery ♬ original sound - Barney However, many TikTok users poked fun at the video and realised that it was just a joke. “You gotta keep the tan up, it’s a lifestyle Brian,” one quipped in the comments of the video, while another added: “So funny to me that people think you’re being [for real].” A third wrote: “I love this… I wish I had his skin colour.” The Independent has contacted Suttner for comment. According to the National Health Service (NHS), it is generally safe for women to use fake tan creams and lotions while pregnant. But, the site recommends avoiding spray tans, since “the effects of inhaling the spray are not known”. “The active ingredient in fake tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA),” the medical site notes. “As the DHA isn’t thought to go beyond the outer layer of skin, it isn’t absorbed into the body and can’t harm your baby [during pregnancy].” The medical site also advises against using tanning pills, which are banned in the UK. “They contain large quantities of beta-carotene or canthaxanthin, which are commonly used as food colourings and can be toxic to an unborn baby,” NHS states. Read More Grandmother praised for refusing to babysit daughter’s newborn unless she’s paid $20 an hour Mother shares horrifying moment she found ticks living in her daughter’s ear Stay-at-home mother explains why she relies on full-time nanny Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat
1970-01-01 08:00
Mother clarifies video about using fake tan on baby was a ‘joke’ after backlash
A mother has clarified that a video she made about giving her child a fake tan was a joke, after she faced a backlash over her footage. Kylen Suttner frequently posts videos on TikTok about her partner and their four-month-old child. In one clip, posted in March, she could be seen holding up her baby, while she appeared to have a serious look on her face. She also poked fun at the self-tanning product that she joked she used on her child, in the text over the video. “When everyone is telling me to stop self-tanning my baby but the loving tan employees have families to feed,” she wrote, referring to the popular self-tanning spray, Loving Tan. In the caption, Suttner added: “loving tan is our fave.” As the video quickly went viral, with more than 1m views, it sparked mixed responses. However, Suttner has now clarified that her video was actually a joke. During an interview with New York Post, she said that her baby’s tan skin is due to his jaundice, “a condition in which the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes turn yellow,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. “Everyone commented on his colour, so I decided to make a joke about it. I would never actually use self tanner on my baby,” she said. “I feel like most people understood it was a joke. But the few who didn’t were appalled that I would self tan my baby.” Although Suttner made this clarification about her video, the clip was still hit with criticism regarding the use of using self-tanners on babies. “Disgusting! So horrible!” one wrote, while another added; “I can’t tell if this is a joke?” @kylensuttner loving tan is our fav #tan #selftan #selftanning #selftanday #lovingtan #babyboy #newborn #newbornnap #momtime #naptime #newbornbaby #newbornbabyboy #momtok #postpartumbody #postpartumrecovery #postpartum #fourthtrimester #4thtrimester #newmom #newmomtok #postpartumjourney #csectiondelivery #csection #csectionmom #csectionrecovery ♬ original sound - Barney However, many TikTok users poked fun at the video and realised that it was just a joke. “You gotta keep the tan up, it’s a lifestyle Brian,” one quipped in the comments of the video, while another added: “So funny to me that people think you’re being [for real].” A third wrote: “I love this… I wish I had his skin colour.” The Independent has contacted Suttner for comment. According to the National Health Service (NHS), it is generally safe for women to use fake tan creams and lotions while pregnant. But, the site recommends avoiding spray tans, since “the effects of inhaling the spray are not known”. “The active ingredient in fake tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA),” the medical site notes. “As the DHA isn’t thought to go beyond the outer layer of skin, it isn’t absorbed into the body and can’t harm your baby [during pregnancy].” The medical site also advises against using tanning pills, which are banned in the UK. “They contain large quantities of beta-carotene or canthaxanthin, which are commonly used as food colourings and can be toxic to an unborn baby,” NHS states. Read More Grandmother praised for refusing to babysit daughter’s newborn unless she’s paid $20 an hour Mother shares horrifying moment she found ticks living in her daughter’s ear Stay-at-home mother explains why she relies on full-time nanny Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat
1970-01-01 08:00