How to Prepare for an Endometriosis Appointment

Your symptoms can be hard to explain in a short appointment. A few notes can help you start the conversation.

You may remember the difficult days clearly, yet struggle to describe them when someone asks, “How have you been?” Whether you are discussing possible endometriosis or care for an existing diagnosis, you can bring a brief account of what you have experienced. You do not need to diagnose yourself first.

Four things to write down

1. What happens, and when

Use your own words to describe the symptom, where you notice it, when it happens, and how long it lasts. If you have noticed a connection with your period, include it. If you have not noticed a pattern, that is useful to say too.

2. How it affects your day

Think about sleep, work, school, caregiving, or everyday activities. One concrete example may be easier to explain than a general description: “I woke up twice because of the pain,” or “I had to leave work early.” The NHS advises seeking care when symptoms interfere with daily life, work, or relationships. [2]

3. What you have tried

Note medicines or other approaches you have used, whether they helped, and any problems you noticed. Bring a current medication list if you have one. These notes are for discussion with your clinician, rather than instructions to start or change treatment.

4. Three questions you want answered

Choose the questions that matter most to you. These are examples you can adapt:

• What might explain my symptoms, and could endometriosis be one possibility?
• What evaluation or symptom-management options should we discuss?
• What is the next step, and when should I follow up?

A sentence to help you begin

“The symptom I most want help with is ____. It happens ____. It affects my day by ____.”

You can read this from your phone or a piece of paper. If it is difficult to talk about a symptom, handing over your notes is another way to start.

A symptom diary can help—but it does not have to be perfect

NICE guideline NG73, recommendation 1.3.3, says that a pain and symptom diary can support discussions for people with suspected or confirmed endometriosis. [1]

A notebook or a short phone note can be a practical starting point. Record what you can, when you can. The four prompts above are Marigold Circle’s suggested way to organize your notes; they are not a required clinical checklist.

You do not need a complete diary before asking for care. If symptoms are affecting your life or are not improving with treatment, contact a healthcare professional rather than waiting to collect more entries. [2]

Before you leave

Consider writing down the agreed next step and when to follow up. If something is unclear, you can ask: “Could you explain that again in everyday language?”

Your notes do not have to tell a perfect story. They only need to help you explain what you want support with.