Preparing your endometriosis appointment
An appointment goes by fast. The stress, your mind going blank, the fear of not being taken seriously. With a little preparation, you arrive with facts, ask your questions, and leave with answers.
Written by Paul, a nurse, founder of EndoQueen. This guide informs; it doesn’t replace an appointment with a health professional.
Why prepare for this appointment
Guidelines such as ESHRE (2022) and NICE (NG73) start with a detailed conversation about your symptoms: what you feel, where, when, and how it weighs on your life. You’re the one who holds this information.
Diagnosis often takes years. Arriving prepared doesn’t solve everything, but it helps you avoid leaving with an “it’s normal to be in pain”.
What to note before you see the doctor
Ideally over two or three cycles. But there’s no need to put off the appointment to have perfect notes.
Your pain
How strong it is out of 10, where it is, the point in your cycle, what you took and whether it helped.
Associated signs
The ones people don’t always dare to mention: deep pain during sex, painful bowel movements or pain when urinating during your period, tiredness, digestive problems, shoulder pain. See our guide to endometriosis symptoms.
The impact on your life
Days missed, plans cancelled, sleep, relationships.
Your history
Age at your first period, cycle length, contraception, treatments and tests already done (bring the reports), family history.
A one-page symptom summary
The doctor has little time. One page that sums everything up is better than a whole notebook: a calendar of your last cycles, average pain and peaks, associated signs, treatments taken, days of activity lost.
A summary doesn’t say what you have: it shows what you’re living with, so the doctor can decide.
Questions to ask the doctor
Write them down beforehand, and pick the ones that matter to you:
- What could explain my pain?
- Which tests do you suggest, and why? Who should do them?
- If the test is normal and I’m still in pain, what happens next?
- Which treatments are possible? What are the side effects?
- Does this treatment affect a future pregnancy?
- Who can help me with painful sex or everyday pain?
- Is there a specialist endometriosis centre near me?
- When should I come back, and which signs should make me come back sooner?
You have the right to ask for something to be repeated or explained again, or to get a second opinion.
Your partner’s role
You can come as a couple, if you’d like to. Your partner can:
- describe what they see of your flare-ups;
- take notes while you talk;
- help you remember everything on your list of questions.
You can also ask to see the doctor on your own for part of the appointment. It’s your appointment.
After the appointment
Read your notes again once you’ve had time to rest. Keep up your tracking, especially if a treatment is starting: that’s what will show, next time, whether it’s working.
If you didn’t feel listened to, you can see someone else. A patient organisation in your country, such as Endometriosis UK, can help you find your way.
Emergency: call your local emergency number if the pain is sudden and unusual, if you have a fever with belly pain, if you feel faint or pass out, or if the bleeding is very heavy. Don’t wait for the appointment.
If you are having dark thoughts or feel in distress, contact a crisis line in your country or your local emergency number. You don’t have to cope alone.
Frequently asked questions
Which doctor should I see if I think I have endometriosis?
Your family doctor (GP), a midwife or a gynaecologist can see you first. For complex endometriosis, many countries have specialist centres.
How long should I note my symptoms before the appointment?
Two or three cycles often give a good picture. But there’s no need to wait to book the appointment: even a few weeks of notes help.
Can my partner come to the appointment?
Yes, if you’d like them to. You can also ask to see the doctor on your own for part of the appointment.
If it helps, EndoQueen is on iPhone and Android. It turns your daily notes into a one-page summary to show your doctor. It does not diagnose, and your journal stays on your phone. The app is currently in French; the English version arrives in November 2026. Discover the app
Read next
Sources
Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.