The Department of Health is working on a plan to reduce the time it takes to diagnose endometriosis
The Department of Health is developing a plan with the aim of reducing the diagnosis time of endometriosis, a chronic disease that affects approximately one in ten women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 and 50. This program is in the final stages of development and is expected to be published during the second semester of this year.
Objectives of the plan
The main objective of the plan is to give visibility to women affected by endometriosis, speed up the diagnosis of the disease and improve care in each situation. According to the Department of Health, in Catalonia there are approximately 50,939 people who suffer from this disease, which causes a significant psychological and socio-economic impact.
Interventions to achieve the objectives
To achieve the objectives set out in the plan, the Department of Health has launched several interventions. One of these interventions is the training of gynecological professionals referring to the Sexual and Reproductive Health Care units (ASSIR). The purpose of this training is to delve into ultrasound techniques that help with the early diagnosis of endometriosis, as well as to allow treatment to start earlier and reduce the effects of the disease and the use of health resources.
During the years 2022 and 2023, different trainings were carried out for 150 obstetrician-gynecological professionals working in the ASSIRS services. This training aims to improve the ability to diagnose and treat endometriosis.
What is endometriosis and what are its effects?
Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by the fact that the endometrium, the tissue that covers the inner part of the uterus, implants and grows outside the uterus itself, usually in the pelvic cavity. This tissue responds to the hormones of the menstrual cycle, causing symptoms such as pelvic and abdominal pain during menstruation, sexual intercourse or at any time during the menstrual cycle. Other symptoms may include infertility or bleeding between periods or excessively during the period itself.
According to data from the Department of Health, in Catalonia there are 50,939 people who suffer from endometriosis. During the year 2022, 5,107 new cases of this disease were diagnosed. The average age of women with endometriosis is 47.7 years, although the average age of newly diagnosed cases has dropped to 39.9 years.