After seven years of pain, Mona was finally diagnosed with adenomyosis

For seven years, 20-year-old Mona Kela endured debilitating menstrual pain, a struggle that began when she was just 13. Despite seeking medical help and undergoing numerous tests, including blood work, gynecological exams, and imaging, the cause of her suffering remained elusive. Initial treatments, such as contraceptive pills, offered no relief, and her condition worsened, leading to excruciating pain that once required an ambulance.

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You are my last hope.

During this period, Mona faced dismissive attitudes from some medical professionals. One gynecologist suggested she get pregnant at 16, while another advised her to simply tolerate menstrual pain as an unavoidable part of womanhood. These comments deeply affected her, but Mona refused to accept such advice. She persisted, eventually finding a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis.

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One gynecologist advised me to get pregnant because I was supposedly very fertile. I was 16 at the time and didn't even have a relationship.

This specialist suspected adenomyosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows within the muscular wall of the uterus, often causing severe pain and heavy bleeding. Gynecologist and associate professor Emilia Huvinen notes that adenomyosis affects about one in ten women of reproductive age and can be difficult to detect, sometimes requiring MRI scans and careful clinical attention.

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Another doctor simply said that menstrual pain should be endured because it is an inevitable part of a woman's life.

Mona has begun treatment with dienogest and is currently managing her symptoms. She hopes her experience will encourage healthcare providers to conduct more thorough investigations for women presenting with similar complaints, preventing others from enduring prolonged suffering. "If a woman comes to the emergency room with heavy bleeding and pain, all possible diagnoses should be considered," she stated.

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Adenomyosis can go unnoticed even during a thorough examination. Sometimes an MRI scan helps determine the diagnosis, but the doctor's attentiveness is also important.