Endometriosis: your first consultation

Your initial endometriosis appointment: Questions the doctor may ask you!

Developed by Ellen T. Johnson, with contributions from Professor Philippe Koninckx, Professor Jörg Keckstein, and Professor Jacques Donnez

ESPANOL

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.

Click HERE to print this form

BASIC QUESTIONS	YOUR RESPONSES
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:	ILLNESS OR SURGERY: DATE:
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? 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 below) 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?).	Yes No Sometimes

SPECIFIC PAIN QUESTIONS	YOUR RESPONSES
Do you have pain during or after sexual intercourse?	Yes No Sometimes
When talking with your doctor about pain with intercourse, be open and honest about the type of pain you have, whether it’s with deep penetration or all the time, whether orgasm makes the pain worse, and what methods alleviate the pain.	Pain is worse with deep penetration I have pain during orgasm I have pain after orgasm I have pain with certain sexual positions
Do you have painful bowel movements?	Yes No Sometimes
Many women with endometriosis report significant bowel pain, including painful bowel movements, rectal pain, constipation, or diarrhoea. The doctor will also want to know if you’ve ever experienced blood in your stool and if any of these symptoms occur during menstruation.	I have painful bowel movements I have rectal pain I have constipation and/or diarrhoea or alternating courses of both I have had blood in my stool My bowel symptoms are worse during menstruation
Do you have pelvic pain with physical exercise?	Yes No Sometimes
Some women with endometriosis report feeling more pain when they engage in strenuous physical exercise. The pain may be more severe during menstruation.	Pain with exercise is worse during menstruation
When did your pain start?	Pain started _____ years ago Pain started recently. When? _______________________
Where is the pain? As you answer this question, point to or describe the area of your body that’s affected. Some physicians will provide a printed diagram of the body so you can mark the areas where you have pain.
Type of pain? When describing pain, consider which adjectives best describe what you experience. Women often describe endometriosis pain as burning, stabbing, gnawing, cramping, jabbing, throbbing, cold, sharp, aching, or pressure.
Severity of pain? There are several ways you can describe the pain’s severity. For example, you may choose to use an adjective, such as excruciating, severe, moderate, or mild. Or you may choose to use a pain scale, rating it on a scale of one (no pain) to ten (pain so severe, it makes you pass out). If it’s helpful, you may want to refer to the Andrea Mankoski’s Pain Scale (see below). Adjective(s) that describe my pain:	Pain on a scale of 1-10: _____

SPECIFIC PAIN QUESTIONS	YOUR RESPONSES
How bad is your pain right now? Be honest!
How many days each month are you in pain? If you have a really good memory, you may be able to estimate the number of days you’re in pain each month. However, most of us tend to put pain out of our minds after it’s come and gone, so our estimates aren’t always accurate. That’s why a Daily Pain Journal (see below) is a better way of determining exactly how many days each month you have pain.	Number of days I’m in pain per month: _____
Is the pain getting worse? From the time the pain started until now, has it gotten worse? If so, by what degree?	Pain is getting much worse Pain is getting somewhat worse Pain is about the same as usual Pain is getting somewhat better
How does the pain impact your life? Tell your physician if you’re missing work or school or declining invitations due to your symptoms. The doctor will also ask if the pain is preventing you from engaging in sports or exercise.
List the medications you have taken to try to alleviate your pain. Were these medications effective? Most women with endometriosis have tried some type of analgesic or anti-inflammatory pain reliever. Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription medications you have taken or are taking for pain, and whether they reduce your pain levels.	Meds Taken: Effective?
List any alternative methods you are currently using (or have used) to relieve your pain: When traditional methods don’t work, many women incorporate alternative approaches (such as acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, or biofeedback) to help alleviate their pain. Tell your doctor if you are taking any herbs or seeing alternative practitioners for your pain and whether these methods are effective.	Method: Effective?

OTHER SYMPTOMS:	YOUR RESPONSES
Do you routinely experience nausea with menstruation?	Yes No
Do you vomit during menstruation?	Yes No
Do you have unusual vaginal bleeding at any time during your cycle?	Yes No
Do you experience painful urination or blood in urine at any time during your cycle?	Yes No
Do you experience bloating during menstruation or at other times?	Yes No
Do you have difficulty gaining or losing weight?	Yes No
Do you experience fatigue?	Yes No

EXAMPLE DAILY PAIN JOURNAL
DATE	DAY IN CYCLE	ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISE	PAIN LEVEL(scale of 1 – 10)	TYPE & LOCATION OF PAIN + OTHER SYMPTOMS	HOW LONG DID PAIN LAST?	MEDS - TAKEN - EFFECTIVENESS
March 15	Day 4	30 minute morning walk	3	Cramping and pressure right below belly button Diarrhoea after lunch	2 hours	Tylenol (moderately effective)

ANDREA MANKOSKI’S PAIN SCALE (used with attribution)
0	Pain free.	No medication needed.
1	Very minor annoyance - occasional minor twinges.	No medication needed.
2	Minor annoyance - occasional strong twinges.	No medication needed.
3	Annoying enough to be distracting.	Mild painkillers are effective (i.e., aspirin, ibuprofen).
4	Can be ignored if you are really involved in your work, but still distracting.	Mild painkillers relieve pain for 3-4 hours.
5	Can't be ignored for more than 30 minutes.	Mild painkillers reduce pain for 3-4 hours.
6	Can't be ignored for any length of time, but you can still go to work and participate in social activities.	Stronger painkillers (Codeine, Vicodin) reduce pain for 3-4 hours.
7	Makes it difficult to concentrate, interferes with sleep You can still function with effort. Stronger painkillers are only partially effective.	Strongest painkillers relieve pain (Oxycontin, Morphine).
8	Physical activity severely limited. You can read and converse with effort. Nausea and dizziness set in as factors of pain.	Stronger painkillers are minimally effective. Strongest painkillers reduce pain for 3-4 hours.
9	Unable to speak – crying out or moaning uncontrollably – near delirium.	Strongest painkillers are only partially effective.
10	Unconscious. Pain makes you pass out.	Strongest painkillers are only partially effective.

Click HERE to print this form

Discussing symptoms with your doctor...

Seeing a doctor about pelvic pain and other troubling gynaecological symptoms can be rather uncomfortable. Teenagerss are especially self-conscious in the gynaecologist’s office. However, it is vitally important to carefully explain your symptoms and to be completely honest about everything that’s bothering you. Providing accurate information is the key to evaluating your current condition. By doing so, you’re helping to ensure a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.