Berlin Endometriosis Specialist: Dr Murat Koc

Dr Murat Koc is a specialist in endometriosis and head physician of the Department of Gynecology at Park-Klinik Weißensee.

As one of Dr Koc's main focuses, patients with endometriosis, a disease that often remains undetected, are treated individually at the gynecological clinic in Berlin Weißensee. Even though there is currently no treatment for the cause of the disease, the symptoms can still be treated with lasting success.

Specialist in Endometriosis: Insights into a Complex Gynecological Disease.

Endometriosis is a benign condition that affects about ten percent of all women and is considered chronic. Scattered endometrium cells grow outside their original location in a hormone-dependent pattern and can cause severe pain and a significant reduction in life quality.

Due to the hormone-dependent growth, the discomfort manifests cycle-dependently and especially around monthly menstruation. The endometriosis lesions can occur in different locations; most commonly, they are found in the small pelvis. The ovaries and fallopian tubes can be affected, but also the bladder and intestines.

In sporadic cases, endometriosis lesions are found outside the abdomen. Affected women experience severe pain, especially in the second half of the cycle and at the beginning of menstruation. There may be discomfort during sexual intercourse, urination, and even defecation. The symptoms depend on the location of the endometriosis. The disease is initially clinically suspected.

State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Procedures for Suspected Endometriosis

Endometriosis can be connected with infertility due to adhesions in the abdominal cavity and chronic inflammatory processes. Diagnostic laparoscopy to clarify possible causes of infertility can be helpful in cooperation with the fertility center.

Endometriosis can manifest in so many ways that patients often go through a long-suffering process and consult many doctors before a diagnosis is confirmed. Dr Koc's team has many years of expertise in the field of endometriosis and provides targeted care for affected patients with the help of state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures. 

To date, the cause of endometriosis has not been adequately researched. This is why the disease is treated based on the symptom profile; no universal therapy is directed to the cause. The patient's symptom relief is the first priority.

Drug Therapy for Endometriosis: Greatest Expertise and Individual Treatment Approaches

A fundamental pillar of treatment is pain therapy. Generally, treatment with painkillers alone is not sufficient in the case of distinct symptoms, and permanent painkiller use over a long period should also be avoided.

Since endometriosis is a hormone-dependent disease, hormonal treatment proves to be the most effective therapeutic approach. The hormonal balance of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone is changed in favor of progesterone. The endometriosis cells growing under the influence of estrogen remain stable or, in the best case, decrease due to the lack of growth stimulus.

Especially in combination with surgery, i.e., after successful endometriosis rehabilitation, hormonal therapy can effectively stabilize the renewed progress of the disease. Pure progestogen therapy and the generally known birth control pill can be chosen and used as a combination product in off-label use. In this case, the patient takes the hormones in a long cycle; there is no intermittent termination bleeding.

Whether hormonal therapy is suitable for the patient must be discussed individually. The side effects can vary; some patients tolerate hormonal therapy less well than others. Some patients do not want hormonal therapy in the first place. The appropriate treatment also depends significantly on the patient's life plan.

Gentle Procedure for Endometriosis: Minimally Invasive Laparoscopy

Tissue samples are taken during a gentle laparoscopy to confirm the final diagnosis. During this minimally invasive procedure, laparoscopic instruments and a camera are placed in the abdomen through tiny incisions.

The inflation of the abdomen with gas allows the surgical team a broad overview of the abdominal cavity. At first glance, large endometriosis lesions, cysts, and adhesions can be detected, but even the most minor endometriosis lesions are located and removed if possible.

The surgery is planned together in advance in a detailed consultation. The expected extent of the surgery and information about possible risks and complications are discussed. Depending on the disease's severity and the procedure's invasiveness, laparoscopy carries a very different risk profile.

If laparoscopy is used solely to diagnose and remove small endometriosis lesions, it is usually a relatively short procedure with few complications. However, the surgery may be much longer and more extensive if more severe endometriosis is found. The severity of endometriosis does not necessarily correlate with the symptom profile.

Since the disease can be located superficially in the pelvis and infiltrate more deeply into the bladder and intestine, it must first be discussed with the patient how invasive the surgeons should proceed. An approach involving invasive bowel and bladder surgery is much riskier and can take a long time to recover. The risk-benefit ratio must be weighed together in advance.

Holistic Care: Complementary Therapies to Support Endometriosis

The therapy can be supplemented with complementary medicine and classic therapy methods such as surgery and medication. These include relaxation methods and autogenic training, physical therapy, herbal therapeutics, acupuncture, and switching to an anti-inflammatory diet.

Many Years of Experience in the Diagnosis & Treatment of Adenomyosis

The Department of Gynecology at Klinik Weißensee in Berlin is characterized by many years of experience treating endometriosis. Great importance is attached to a prompt and comprehensive diagnosis; the patient's wishes and questions are always in the foreground.

The multi-layered burden that an endometriosis disease can bring with it is examined at all levels, and the therapy is carefully and individually adapted to the patient.

Therapy planning and decision-making are carried out jointly, and patients will always find an open ear for questions and concerns from the attending physicians and nursing team. An endometriosis consultation hour designed for the disease provides individual and detailed advice to affected patients.

Radiofrequency Ablation: State-of-the-Art Therapy for Myomas

Myomas are benign muscle nodules in the uterus that can be asymptomatic but can also cause discomfort. Possible symptoms can include heavier menstrual bleeding, cramping during menstruation, pressure on the bladder, frequent urination, constipation, and even infertility.

The Parkklinik in Weissensee offers patients a wide range of treatments, emphasizing gentle procedures. Radiofrequency ablation is a modern and very gentle treatment method.

No surgical incision is required for this procedure, meaning that excellent results can be achieved uncomplicated. Physicians use a special device, which is inserted transvaginal, to detect the myomas using ultrasound and then target them with radiofrequency energy.

This reduces the size of the muscle nodules, and annoying symptoms improve or disappear entirely. As there is no need for incisions, the tissue can be spared, and there are no scars.

It is suitable for most types of myomas and can be used safely on patients wishing to have children. The experienced team at Parkklinik Weisensee, led by Dr Koc, explains the method's steps in detail to the patients in advance and defines other treatment options, such as the surgical treatment procedure. The treatment decision is individually aligned to the patient's wishes and requirements.

Please, visit the website of the Department of Gynecology Weißensee for further information.