The conditionsGynaecology / chronic conditionReviewed starting point / not a diagnosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis
A condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. Symptoms and their impact vary, and assessment may involve clinical history, examination, imaging and sometimes laparoscopy.
Established starting points
What the current sources support.
- 01
Symptoms can include severe period pain, pelvic pain, pain with sex, bowel or bladder symptoms, fatigue and difficulty becoming pregnant.
- 02
NICE says not to exclude endometriosis because examination or ultrasound is normal; referral may still be necessary when symptoms persist or substantially affect daily life.
- 03
There is currently no cure, but medical, hormonal and surgical options can help manage symptoms. Decisions should reflect the individual’s symptoms, priorities and circumstances.
Lived experience / boundary visible
Why my story belongs here—and where it stops.
My account can make diagnostic delay and the impact of pain visible. It cannot establish the extent of your disease, predict your treatment response or explain every continuing symptom.
Questions worth taking inAsk for the clinical reasoning, not a predetermined answer.
- Could this symptom pattern warrant assessment for endometriosis or another condition?
- What can this scan assess, and what would a normal result not exclude?
- When would referral to gynaecology or a specialist endometriosis service be appropriate?
- How will treatment choices account for pain, fertility priorities and side effects?
What to write downTrack what makes the conversation clearer.
- Pain and other symptoms, including whether they vary with the cycle
- Impact on daily activities, work, sex, sleep, bowel or bladder function
- Treatments tried, benefit, side effects and reasons for stopping
- Examination, imaging, referrals and the next review point
Take the question off the screen
Take your actual questions into the room.