Copied with permission from the Endometriosis Zone

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Your initial endometriosis appointment: Questions the doctor may ask you

By Ellen T. Johnson, with contributions from Professor Philippe Koninckx, Prim. Univ. Professor Dr. Jörg Keckstein, and Professor Jacques Donnez

If you’re like most women with endometriosis, you’ve been concerned about your pelvic pain and other unusual symptoms for quite some time. You may not have been taken seriously at first. Parents, friends, and even doctors may have dismissed your symptoms as a normal part of being female. But deep down, you knew your symptoms weren’t normal. At some point, you decided to listen to that voice inside you. And now you’re going for your initial appointment with the gynaecologist.

To make sure the doctor has all the information he or she needs in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan for you, it’s important to be well-prepared for this first appointment. To help you get ready, we’ve developed a list of questions your doctor may ask you. Think about your answers to the questions ahead of time so you can give the doctor all the information he or she needs to help you.

BASIC QUESTIONS

Most gynaecologists ask several basic questions at every appointment, regardless of the reason you’re there. Record this information in a small notebook and take it with you to each appointment.

Date of your first menstrual period:

Date of your most recent menstrual period:

 Duration of your period:

Type of flow (heavy, medium, light):

Do you have bleeding between periods?

Do you menstruate every 28 to 30 days, or are your cycles irregular?

What medications, birth control pills, hormones, and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis? (Note the strength and how often these medications are taken.)

List any previous illnesses (including sexually-transmitted diseases) and surgeries you have had:

List your immediate family’s major illnesses and diseases: List all known allergies: Do you use tobacco? If yes, how much and how often?

 Do you drink alcohol? If yes, how much and how often?

Do you or have you ever used illegal drugs? If yes, how much and how often?

 Do you have pain with your menstrual periods?  Yes  No  Sometimes

Try to recognise the pattern of your pain. It’s important to tell the doctor if you have pain during your menstrual period, all the time, or if it comes and goes. These questions are often best answered by keeping a Daily Pain Journal (see following pages) that keeps track of the date, the day in your menstrual cycle, the amount of pain you’re having, and the duration of the pain (for example, did it last all day or just part of the day?).