31/10/2026
Adenomyosis research is thin, so when a body of trials exists it’s worth reading closely, including where it falls short.
⚡ A 2025 systematic review pooled 14 randomised trials (1,259 patients). Everyone had HIFU, a non-invasive ultrasound treatment that ablates adenomyotic tissue, and then received either herbal medicine or nothing extra.
⚡ The herbal groups had smaller uterine and lesion volumes, lower CA125 and estradiol, less menstrual bleeding and lower period pain scores. The pain difference averaged about half a point on a 10-point scale, and the confidence interval only just excludes no difference.
⚡ Fewer adverse effects after HIFU (like pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding) were reported in the herbal groups.
⚡ The limits matter: every trial was in China, results varied a lot between trials, and four trials were at high risk of bias. The authors rate the certainty as low to moderate and call for longer, better trials. They also flag that multi-herb formulas can cause unpredictable side effects, so herbs need qualified, individual prescribing.
⚡ For context, a 2026 Australian scoping review of lifestyle approaches for endometriosis and adenomyosis found that only 1 of 21 studies included women with adenomyosis. The evidence gap is real.
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Primary Source: Kim E-J, Shim Y-S, Sung H-K, Min S-Y. “The Efficacy and Safety Herbal Medicine for Symptom Management After HIFU Treatment in Adenomyosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Pharmaceuticals. 2025;18(6):843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18060843
Context Source: Hough B, Drever N, Manger S. “What is the Evidence on Lifestyle Interventions for the Symptom Management of Pelvic Pain in Women With Endometriosis or Adenomyosis? A Scoping Review.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261419770