Adenomyosis symptoms as BBC star ‘conditioned’ to accept pain
Naga Munchetty revealed she had sometimes experienced symptoms while presenting live on air
Naga Munchetty was diagnosed with the condition in 2022, 32 years after first experiencing symptoms(Image: GETTY)
The 51-year-old was diagnosed with adenomyosis in 2022, after being “conditioned” to accept her pain as a normal part of life. However, the condition doesn’t have a cure and the cause of it is also unknown.
Adenomyosis occurs when the lining of the womb, which is what is shed during a period, starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. During a menstrual cycle, the tissue that has grown into the muscle still thickens, breaks down and bleeds just like the rest of the womb lining.
Patients and clinicians alike may dismiss the symptoms as ‘normal’ for a menstrual cycle(Image: GETTY)
Common symptoms according to the NHS:
Painful periods
Heavy bleeding during periods
Pelvic pain
Bloating, heaviness or fullness in the abdomen
Pain during sex
The condition is also known as the ‘evil twin’ of endometriosis, which occurs when the same tissue in the lining of the womb grows in other areas of the body, not just the muscle wall of the womb.
Both ailments can affect anyone who experiences periods and often takes years to get answers, with endometriosis taking nearly a decade to diagnose and adenomyosis patients waiting even longer on average.
The NHS urges people to see their GP if their periods are becoming more painful, heavy or irregular and if it starts affecting your everyday life.
Adenomyosis is usually diagnosed using MRI and ultrasound scans, but the NHS notes there can be delays in diagnosis as the symptoms and severity can be different for each person.
Experts believe the condition may be underdiagnosed as the symptoms may be dismissed by clinicians or even patients as the usual signs of menstruation.
The BBC star recalled experiencing the debilitating symptoms while live on air(Image: BBC)
There is no cure, but some treatments promise to help with the symptoms of adenomyosis, such as hormonal coils or contraception, which may make periods lighter. In severe cases, a hysterectomy may be required to surgically remove the lining of the womb.
Naga shared in a new interview with The Times: “It can come at any time, but you put it in a box and you get on with your job — that’s what most women do when they’re in pain.”
She has previously revealed that the condition had affected her even while she was live on air, presenting BBC Breakfast. She recalled one instance where she thought she was passing out on-camera and managed to get a 10-minute break to throw up and clean up before returning to her role.
