Prof. Francisco Carmona

Prof. Francisco Carmona is a full professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Barcelona and head of the Gynecology Unit at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona—one of Spain's leading university hospitals and a major academic medical centre in Europe. Over his 28-year career, he has established himself as one of the foremost gynecologic surgeons in Spain and among the most respected in Europe, with an international reputation anchored by his expertise in endometriosis surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, and oncological surgery of the uterus and cervix.

Endometriosis—a chronic inflammatory condition in which endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, causing pain, adhesions, and infertility—is at the center of Prof. Carmona's surgical practice. He is particularly experienced in the management of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), which requires complex dissection of the bowel, bladder, ureters, and pelvic nerves. His meticulous laparoscopic technique, honed over thousands of procedures, prioritizes complete lesion excision while preserving surrounding structures and fertility where patients wish to conceive. He has been involved in developing and validating classification systems for endometriosis severity that help standardize surgical approach and outcome reporting.

In gynecologic oncology, Prof. Carmona applies minimally invasive approaches to the treatment of cervical cancer and uterine cancer, including laparoscopic and robotic-assisted hysterectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and fertility-sparing trachelectomy for selected young women with early-stage cervical cancer who wish to preserve their reproductive capacity—a technically demanding operation that requires exceptional surgical precision.

His clinic at Hospital Clínic receives patients from across Spain, other European countries, and further afield, many of them referred by gynecologists who recognize the complexity of their case and seek Prof. Carmona's specialized expertise.

Prof. Carmona graduated from the University of Barcelona School of Medicine and completed his specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology at Hospital Clínic, gaining extensive experience in both obstetric care and benign and oncological gynecology. His PhD, awarded by the University of Barcelona, focused on endometriosis pathophysiology and surgical outcomes, establishing the scientific foundation for his subsequent research career. He completed advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery training at leading European centres in France, Germany, and Belgium, at a time when these techniques were transforming gynecological practice. He has served as course director for advanced laparoscopic surgery training programs accredited by ESGE and AAGL and has trained dozens of gynecologic surgeons from Spain and other European countries. He holds a full professorship at the University of Barcelona, where he teaches undergraduate medical students and postgraduate gynecology residents.

Prof. Carmona's operative expertise spans the full spectrum of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, with particular depth in endometriosis excision, hysterectomy, and oncological procedures. For endometriosis, he performs complete laparoscopic excision of all forms—superficial peritoneal disease, ovarian endometriomas, and deep infiltrating lesions involving the rectovaginal septum, bowel, bladder, and ureters—working within a multidisciplinary team that includes colorectal surgeons and urologists for complex bowel and urinary tract involvement.

For uterine fibroids, he performs laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy tailored to fibroid location and patient reproductive wishes, and laparoscopic hysterectomy when definitive treatment is preferred. In gynecologic oncology, he performs radical hysterectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy using fluorescent tracers for staging of endometrial and cervical cancer, and fertility-sparing simple or radical trachelectomy for early cervical cancer. He is also highly experienced in advanced hysteroscopy for uterine cavity abnormalities including septum resection, polyp removal, and evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding. His procedures are performed using high-definition laparoscopic and, where appropriate, robotic-assisted platforms.

Prof. Carmona has authored or co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and surgical technique videos in gynecology. His research on endometriosis classification—including work toward the ENZAMET (European Endometriosis League Classification) system—has contributed to international efforts to standardize how endometriosis is staged and treated, improving comparability of outcomes across centers and studies. He has published extensively on laparoscopic surgical outcomes in deep endometriosis, fertility results following conservative surgery, and the role of different surgical approaches in preserving ovarian reserve. In gynecologic oncology, his publications address fertility-sparing approaches in cervical cancer, sentinel node techniques for endometrial cancer staging, and minimally invasive radical hysterectomy. His work appears in journals including Fertility and Sterility, Human Reproduction, Gynecologic Oncology, and Minimally Invasive Gynecology. He has co-authored SEGO and ESGE clinical practice guidelines on endometriosis and hysteroscopy.

Prof. Carmona and the Gynecology Unit at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona are experienced in receiving patients from across Europe and internationally. The hospital has a dedicated international patient office with multilingual staff, assistance with medical records and imaging transfer, and coordination with private health insurers. Prof. Carmona consults in Spanish, Catalan, and English. EU patients may utilize the European Health Insurance Card for emergency situations or apply for planned treatment reimbursement under EU cross-border healthcare rules; patients from outside the EU are accommodated on a private basis with all costs discussed and agreed in advance. Video consultations are available for initial review of gynecological conditions, which is particularly useful for patients seeking guidance on whether they require surgical intervention for endometriosis or uterine pathology before committing to travel.

Prof. Carmona has received the SEGO (Sociedad Española de Ginecología y Obstetricia) National Award in Research, the highest scientific distinction from Spain's national gynecology and obstetrics society, in recognition of his contributions to minimally invasive surgery and endometriosis research. The American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in advancing advanced laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in Europe and internationally. The European Endometriosis League has formally recognized his contributions to endometriosis classification and international surgical training initiatives. He has served as course director and faculty at ESGE, AAGL, and ESHRE congresses, and delivers invited lectures across Europe, North America, and Latin America. He has chaired the endometriosis working group of SEGO and contributed to multiple ESGE and ESHRE consensus guidelines.