Israel's First Endometriosis Treatment Center Opened At Sheba Medical Center's Division Of Obstetrics And Gynecology
The New Clinic Will Treat Women Who Suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain, Severe Menstrual Pain, Pain During Intercourse and Fertility Disorders, all Caused by Endometriosis
Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer this week opened Israel's first center for the treatment of endometriosis, a debilitating gynecological disease which can cause infertility. The unique center brings together gynecological doctors, laparoscopic surgeons, fertility specialists, endocrinologists, pain experts and medical researchers in a multidisciplinary effort to treat women who suffer from the disease.
Endometriosis is a condition caused by the existence in the pelvic area outside the womb of a mucous tissue membrane that normally presents itself in the womb only. Approximately ten percent of fertile women, and between 35-50 percent of women with fertility problems, are eventually diagnosed with endometriosis.
The condition, which often is not diagnosed until the patient suffers for a lengthy period of time, can cause severe back pain both before and during menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, fits of abdominal cramps during menstruation, pain during sexual intercourse, and even infertility.
Endometriosis can also cause digestive system problems, including constipation, pain during bowel movement, diarrhea and rectal bleeding mainly during menstruation, urinary pain and aggravated urinary need during menstruation.
The center will focus on early detection and treatment of the disease, research of the disease and its side-effects, support for endometriosis patients, and the development of public awareness of the disease. The center is to be headed by Dr. David Soriano of Sheba's OB/GYN Division, who together with Prof. Daniel Zaidman led the initiative to establish the Endometriosis Treatment Center at the OB/GYN Division under the leadership of Prof. Eyal Schiff, Prof. Gilad Ben-Baruch and Prof. Mordechai Goldenberg.
Dr. Suriano stresses that the center will provide a full suite of treatment options for endometriosis patients, ranging from one-session counseling to advanced surgery. The center will operate in cooperation with community doctors, the gynecological community, fertility centers and diverse medical research units at Sheba.
To mark the opening of the center, Sheba invited Dr. Arnold Wattiez, a prominent French surgeon, to lecture and conduct a number of surgical procedures which will be video-cast live to physicians involved in this specific medical field.
