How do I get an endometriosis diagnosis?

Bottom lineGet an endometriosis diagnosis by tracking your symptoms in detail (pain type, timing, link to your cycle, and impact) and being specific and persistent with a clinician, who takes your history and may examine you and arrange an ultrasound (a normal scan doesn't rule it out); definitive diagnosis is often by laparoscopy, treatment may start beforehand, and you can ask for a gynecologist or specialist referral if you're not being heard.

Getting an endometriosis diagnosis can take time, and many people see a clinician several times before answers come. Going in prepared helps you be heard and move the process forward.

Prepare for your appointment

• Track your symptoms - the type, timing, and severity of pain, how it links to your cycle, and the impact on your life
• Note painful periods, pain during sex, bowel or bladder symptoms, and any fertility concerns
• Be specific and persistent - say clearly how much it affects you

What the assessment involves

1. A clinician takes your history and may do a pelvic examination
2. An ultrasound scan may be done - it can show some endometriosis (like cysts) but a normal scan does not rule it out
3. You may be referred to a gynecologist or specialist service

How it's confirmed

• The definitive diagnosis is often by laparoscopy - keyhole surgery that lets a surgeon see and sometimes treat endometriosis tissue
• Treatment is sometimes started based on symptoms before surgical confirmation

If you're not being heard

Ask for a referral to a gynecologist or specialist endometriosis service, and don't give up - delays are common, and persistence matters.

See how is endometriosis diagnosed for detail.

Femora helps you build a clear symptom record to bring to appointments and push for the right referral.