Endometriosis is a gynecological, inflammatory, benign and chronic disease that affects around 190 million women and young people of reproductive age worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is characterized by the implantation and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It forms when this endometrium is not expelled during menstruation. Then, adhesions are created, tissues in different organs, which cause intense pain.
Parc Taulí is a benchmark in dealing with this disease with an Endometriosis Unit, made up of a multidisciplinary team of care professionals from different specialties such as gynecology, urology, surgeons, radiology and psychology. In this unit, comprehensive and specific care is offered for each case. The number of visits and inquiries has been increasing in recent years, doubling. "In 2023 we made more than 500, including first visits and control and follow-up visits”, explains Dra. Montserrat Mestre, gynecologist at the Endometriosis Unit of Parc Taulí.
This increase is the response to the information and awareness campaigns carried out by the Department of Health. "Also for the new circuits established, we hold regular meetings with primary care professionals. All this has helped to make this disease visible. Now, girls and women consult more", assures Dra. Laura Costa gynecologist of the Endometriosis Unit of Parc Taulí.
Endometriosis is a difficult disease to diagnose because the exact origin is unknown, but the research that has been done has revealed that there are different factors that can contribute such as: genetic predisposition, up to 10% of patients have relatives who have suffered from endometriosis; have a greater estrogenic stimulus; having menstruated at an early age, before the age of 11 or not having had children.
The main clinic of endometriosis is to have painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), pain with sexual intercourse, periovulatory pain, chronic pelvic pain, pain with urination, pain with defecation and there may also be cases accompanied by sterility "Although there is a high percentage of women, 30%, who do not show any symptoms", points out Dra. Laura Costa.
Emotional distress can also affect women, because the pain they suffer, in many cases, can be incapacitating. This is why they are offered advice from the Endometriosis Unit.
Treatments
As endometriosis is a disease that is detected in the reproductive age, treatments are highly individualized and agreed upon with the patient, depending on their severity, age, gestational desire, location, extent, response and tolerance to medical treatment.
In recent years there has been a change in the treatment approach, Dr. Montserrat Mestre points out that "now they are customized treatments. Before, surgery was one of the most important treatments. Currently, we advise the patient at the moment of your reproductive desire and we assess which is the most suitable. The goal is to treat pain and improve fertility".
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