A specialist appointment may be with a gynaecologist, endometriosis specialist, surgeon, pelvic physiotherapist, pain specialist, fertility specialist, urologist, colorectal surgeon, neurologist or another healthcare professional.

Specialist appointments can feel important, and sometimes overwhelming. You may have waited a long time, travelled far, or placed a lot of hope in the appointment.

Preparing in advance can help you make the most of the time.

Use the Prepare for Appointment Tool first

Before your appointment, use our Prepare for Appointment Tool.

It will help you organise:

  • your symptoms
  • your pain pattern
  • bowel and bladder symptoms
  • fatigue and whole-body symptoms
  • any fertility concerns
  • previous tests or scan results
  • treatments you have tried
  • previous surgery, if any
  • what you want help with
  • questions you want to ask

You can take the summary with you or use it as notes during the appointment.

Gather useful information

If you have them, bring or request copies of:

  • ultrasound reports
  • MRI reports
  • previous surgery notes
  • histology or biopsy reports
  • discharge letters
  • clinic letters
  • medication list
  • pain relief tried
  • hormonal treatments tried
  • fertility investigations
  • symptom diary or appointment tool summary

You do not need to have all of these. Bring what you can.

Be clear about your priorities

Specialists need to understand what matters most to you.

Your priorities may include:

  • reducing pain
  • understanding whether endometriosis is likely
  • getting a diagnosis
  • protecting fertility
  • preparing for surgery
  • avoiding certain side effects
  • improving bowel symptoms
  • improving bladder symptoms
  • managing fatigue
  • returning to school, work or caring responsibilities
  • understanding whether multidisciplinary care is needed

You could say:

“My main priority is understanding what is causing my symptoms and what the next step should be.”

Or:

“My main concern is pain and bowel symptoms that are affecting daily life.”

Or:

“Fertility matters to me, so I want to understand how my options may affect that.”

Explain your symptoms by body system

It can help to group symptoms clearly.

Pain:

  • where it is
  • what it feels like
  • when it happens
  • how severe it is
  • what it stops you doing

Bowel:

  • constipation
  • diarrhoea
  • painful bowel movements
  • rectal pain
  • bleeding
  • symptoms linked with your cycle

Bladder:

  • urgency
  • frequency
  • pain passing urine
  • bladder pressure
  • blood in urine
  • symptoms linked with your cycle

Other:

  • fatigue
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • pain during or after sex
  • fertility concerns
  • nerve-like pain
  • chest, shoulder or breathing symptoms
  • scar pain or swelling

This makes it easier for the specialist to see the whole picture.

Questions to ask a specialist

You may want to ask:

  • Do my symptoms fit with suspected endometriosis?
  • Could deep or extra-pelvic endometriosis be possible?
  • Could adenomyosis or another condition also be contributing?
  • What do my scan results show?
  • What can scans miss?
  • Would specialist imaging be useful?
  • What treatment options are appropriate?
  • What are the risks and benefits of each option?
  • What happens if I choose to wait or monitor symptoms?
  • Should another specialist be involved?
  • What is the next step if symptoms do not improve?

If surgery is discussed

If surgery is mentioned, ask:

  • What type of surgery are you recommending?
  • Is the aim diagnosis, treatment or both?
  • Would endometriosis be excised, ablated or both?
  • What areas would be checked during surgery?
  • Would bowel, bladder, ureter, diaphragm or nerve involvement be assessed?
  • Would another surgeon be available if complex disease is found?
  • Will tissue be sent for histology?
  • What are the risks?
  • What is recovery usually like?
  • What follow-up care will I have?

You do not have to agree to surgery in the appointment. You can ask for time to think.

If fertility matters to you

Ask:

  • Could endometriosis affect my fertility?
  • Are there signs of endometriomas or adhesions?
  • Should fertility tests or referral be considered?
  • Could treatment affect ovarian reserve?
  • What options are available if I want children now or in the future?
  • Should a fertility specialist be involved?

Fertility conversations should be handled carefully and based on your goals.

Before you leave

Make sure you understand:

  • what the specialist thinks may be happening
  • what diagnosis has or has not been made
  • what tests are needed
  • what treatment options are being considered
  • what you need to do next
  • who to contact if symptoms worsen
  • when follow-up will happen
  • whether a letter will be sent to your GP

Ask for written information if possible.

Final reminder

A specialist appointment should help you understand your options, not leave you more confused.

Use the Prepare for Appointment Tool before you go, take notes during the appointment if you can, and ask for clarification if something does not make sense.

You are allowed to ask questions.