ENDOMETRIOSIS RESOURCES

Communicating your medical needs or situation, whether it be with your doctors, work, or friends and family can be its own challenge altogether. Our team has developed resources to assist you on this journey. Our goal is to help you feel knowledgeable and empowered - You are your best advocate!

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR MEDICAL TEAM

On average, Endometriosis takes 10 years to formally diagnose in the United States. While this is in part due to its surgical necessity - the standard of practice set by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) in the case of Presumptive Endometriosis is to attempt to “rule out” all other possibilities, and “treat” via pain relievers (NSAIDs) and hormone therapy (birth control, progestin-only medications, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists) for symptom management, unless infertility has been proven.

This trial-and-error methodology often accompanied by normal results for other tests such as bloodwork, CT Scans, MRIs, and Ultrasounds delays patients’ path to diagnosis before effective treatment can even begin. Endometriosis, if left untreated, can create a whole host of issues including but not limited to pain, scarring, adhesions, inflammation, and organ damage. Not to mention the additional psychological effects of living with an undiagnosed disease for potentially a decade or more and the result that can have on one’s quality of life.

You may very well be running into this with your current medical team. Some of our top tips to be your own best advocate are to:

Request documentation following each appointment for your own records
Bring a trusted friend, family member or caretaker to appointments or support and a second set of ears

If any requests (surgery, tests, referrals) are denied - ask for the interaction and their reasoning to be noted in your chart
Ask about potential risks of all proposed treatments
Keep a detailed account of your symptoms, therapies, medications you've tried, and things that may trigger your symptoms can help create a bigger picture for your doctor
Take notes during your appointment that you can review at a later time
Do not be afraid to get a second… or a fifth opinion

Our goal is to help you be armed with knowledge so that you are able to make informed, consenting decisions in regard to your health and trust your medical team.

FAQs- Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Curious about Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy? Learn more about PFPT from our Medical Liason Dr. Shantae Willaims.

Download - Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy FAQs

Prompt - Communicating with your General/OBGYN when you suspect Endometriosis

Communicating with your provider can be a frustrating experience. Going into the appointment prepared can help streamline the process in accessing effective treatment.

Download - Communicating with your General/OBGYN Prompt

Questions to Ask During Endometriosis Surgical Consultation

Preparing for your surgical consultation can be stressful. We’ve put together questions to help you be prepared during your endometriosis surgical consultation.

Download - Questions for Endometriosis Surgical Consultation

Additional Questions to Ask During Surgical Consultation if Adenomyosis is Suspected

Many who are diagnosed with endometriosis are also diagnosed with Adenomyosis. We’ve put together questions to help you be prepared during your adenomyosis surgical consultation.

Download - Questions for Adenomyosis Surgical Consultation

Book Recommendations

Resources are available to help you learn more about endometriosis, and cope with living with a chronic illness. Below is a list of our favorite reading resources.