Pelvic pain is one of the most common reasons women seek gynecological consultation, yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed and under-appreciated symptoms. When that pain recurs month after month, interferes with your daily life or cannot be explained by the usual findings, endometriosis may be behind it all. Recognizing when it's time to seek out an endometriosis gynecologist can make a huge difference, both in the time it takes to receive a diagnosis and in the quality of the treatment you receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Ginelux, a gynecological practice based in Telde and serving patients from all over Gran Canaria, including Las Palmas, Vecindario, Maspalomas and Playa del Ingl\u00e9s, we want to bring you clear and useful information so you can make informed decisions about your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than six months in the lower abdomen or pelvis, either continuously or in recurrent episodes. It is not simply a passing discomfort: it can affect work performance, sex life, sleep and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For years, many women have heard phrases such as \u2018it's normal that it hurts\u2019 or \u2018it's typical period pains\u2019. This normalization has real consequences: according to data available in the medical literature, the diagnosis of endometriosis takes an average of 7 to 10 years from the onset of the first symptoms. A delay that, in many cases, could be avoided with a specialized gynecological consultation in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not all pain during menstruation indicates a serious problem. However, there are signs that distinguish a menstrual pain within normal variability from one that requires evaluation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you recognize any of these situations, it is time to visit a gynecologist for a specific evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which endometrial-like tissue, the inner layer of the uterus, grows outside the uterus. It can appear on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel or peritoneum. Each month, this tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle just as it would inside the uterus: it becomes inflamed, bleeds and generates adhesions that can cause severe pain and affect fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is estimated to affect between 10 and 15% of women of reproductive age, although the real figures are probably higher due to underdiagnosis. In Gran Canaria, as in the rest of Spain, access to a gynecologist specialized in endometriosis within the public health system usually involves long waiting lists, which leads many patients to seek a second opinion or a more agile follow-up in a private gynecological clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Endometriosis can manifest itself in very different ways depending on the person and the location of the affected tissue. These are the symptoms that most often lead to suspect its presence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The presence of several of these symptoms does not confirm the diagnosis, but does warrant a consultation with a gynecologist experienced in pelvic pathology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The diagnosis of endometriosis is one of the most complex processes in gynecology, precisely because the symptoms overlap with other pathologies and because there is no single definitive test to confirm it without surgical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The evaluation always begins with a detailed clinical history: when the symptoms appear, what they are related to, what treatments have been tried and what the response has been. From there, the gynecologist may request a high-resolution transvaginal ultrasound, which can identify endometriotic cysts in the ovaries (endometriomas) and deep lesions in adjacent structures. In more complex cases, a pelvic MRI may be necessary or, ultimately, a diagnostic laparoscopy, which allows direct visualization of the lesions and confirms the diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Ginelux, the gynecological team, formed among others by Ram\u00f3n Santana Garc\u00eda, medical director with specialization in Gynecology and Obstetrics, and gynecologists such as M\u00f3nica \u00c1lvarez S\u00e1nchez, Elena Torres Castellano, Rosa Rodr\u00edguez de la Mano, Luc\u00eda Gonz\u00e1lez S\u00e1nchez and Marta de Luis, works with an approach aimed at reducing as much as possible the diagnostic waiting time that so many women have experienced as a source of frustration and wear and tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most common problems is that pelvic pain is treated symptomatically, with contraceptives or analgesics, without investigating its real cause. This can mask endometriosis and delay its proper treatment. Another common mistake is to dismiss the disease because a conventional ultrasound scan shows no abnormalities: superficial or peritoneal endometriosis may not be visible on standard imaging tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going to a gynecological clinic with specific experience in pelvic pathology, whether in Las Palmas, Telde or with attention to patients from Agaete, Vecindario or any point of Gran Canaria, considerably increases the chances of reaching a correct and timely diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The treatment of endometriosis depends on multiple factors: the extent of the disease, the intensity of the symptoms, the patient's age, her desire for future fertility and her response to previous treatments. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for all women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initial approach is usually medical. Combined hormonal contraceptives, progestogens or GnRH analogs can reduce pain and slow disease progression by suppressing or regulating the menstrual cycle. These treatments do not eliminate existing lesions, but they significantly improve the quality of life in many patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When medical treatment is not sufficient, endometriosis causes severe adhesions or involves structures such as the ovaries, bladder or bowel, surgical intervention may be indicated. Laparoscopy is the reference technique: it allows resection or coagulation of the lesions with a much faster recovery than open surgery. At Ginelux, the surgical team, with the accumulated experience of gynecologists such as Eleazar Bravo Moreno, approaches these procedures with an individualized approach and oriented to preserve ovarian function when possible. You can learn more about the procedures available in the section of Ginelux gynecological surgeries<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many women who live in areas such as Maspalomas, Playa del Ingl\u00e9s or in inland municipalities and the north of Gran Canaria feel that access to specialized gynecological care is far from their daily lives. Ginelux, with an office in Telde and the capacity to attend patients from Las Palmas and the rest of the island, seeks to bring this level of specialized care closer to them without distance being an obstacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are some clear indicators that it is time to seek specific assessment beyond general gynecology:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all these cases, having a gynecologist with regular training and practice in endometriotic pathology makes a real difference. The team of Ginelux general gynecology<\/a> can help guide you through this process from the very first consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Ginelux, gynecological care is not only focused on the diagnosis, but also on the experience of each patient. This approach is reflected in the day-to-day practice. This approach is also part of the day-to-day practice, as reflected in the following content shared by the Ginelux team:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen to look for a gynecologist specialized in endometriosis in Gran Canaria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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