Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre

Common symptoms include:

• very painful periods or pain around the onset of the period
• pelvic pain during or after sexual intercourse
• pain emptying bowel and/or bladder (particularly cyclically)
• cyclical pains elsewhere (e.g. Caesarean section scar or lungs)
• non-cyclical pelvic pain
• fatigue.

This includes anyone previously diagnosed with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis.

Assessment

The first clinic visit involves an assessment with a doctor or specialist nurse and includes a detailed history and usually an internal examination.

We may have a short telephone clinic before the in-person clinic to ensure the best management pathway. We may suggest assessment by ultrasound or with a specialist physiotherapist either during this clinic or at a later date.

First appointment

You might find it helpful to think through the following questions before your initial appointment, and perhaps make some notes to help you remember things you want to tell us.

1. When and where do I have pain and what is it like? (You may want to start a pain diary until your clinic visit)
   
2. Does anything provoke the pain and is it cyclical in nature?
   
3. What medications am I taking and do they help?
   
4. What are my plans regarding having children?

We will ask you to describe your symptoms, and ask you questions such as when they started, how they affect you and what treatments, if any, you have already tried

We will examine your abdomen, and possibly examine you internally. We will always offer you a chaperone during any examination. An internal examination may include the insertion of a speculum into the vagina to look at the cervix and vaginal wall, and a digital internal examination to test your pelvic floor and deeper areas of your vagina/pelvis.

We will order any further investigations such as blood tests, ultrasounds scan or MRI.

We will discuss a management plan, which may include medical treatment, surgery, fertility treatment, and possible referral to other specialist colleagues such as:

• physiotherapists
• chronic pelvic pain specialists
• colorectal surgeons
• urogynaecology specialists
• urology specialists
• lung specialists.

Treatments

There is a range of choices of surgical, hormonal and non-hormonal treatments used in the management of pain associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis. The choice of treatment is often determined by the patient's priorities.

Treatments may include:

• painkillers
• hormonal therapies
• surgery
• physiotherapy
• psychological support.

We will undertake a thorough assessment to ensure that any underlying conditions have been considered, and your fertility plans are taken into account. The choice of treatment is made in partnership between the patient and the healthcare professional.

Referrals

You will need a referral from your GP. We are happy to receive referrals from any area, but please discuss with your GP whether there is clinic closer to where you live.

Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre referrals

Find and contact us

Endometriosis Clinic
Level 1, Women's Centre
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headington
Oxford OX3 9DU

How to find the John Radcliffe Hospital

Medical secretary (Patient Pathway Co-ordinator)

Isis Newman: ouh.gynaesecjr@nhs.net

Links

• Endometriosis patient information leaflet - RCOG
  
• Endometriosis: diagnosis and management - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
  
• Endometriosis - NHS website
• Endometriosis UK
• Fertility Network UK
• British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy
• British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy Accredited Centres

Endometriosis and COVID-19

• Endometriosis CaRe Centre - COVID-19 Advice
  
• Endometriosis UK information hub

Wellbeing

Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World
Free meditation practices

Leaflets

OUH

• Surgical Treatment of Endometriosis (pdf)
• Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS or hormone coil) (pdf)
  

NICE

Hormone treatment for endometriosis symptoms – what are my options?

RCOG | Recovering Well

• Laparoscopy - recovering well patient information leaflet
  
• Abdominal hysterectomy - recovering well patient information leaflet
  

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Self help leaflets
Free self-help leaflets on a wide range of issues

Survey

We are conducting a survey of our patients and hope you will be willing to take part. We would like to know how you feel about the service we provide so we can make sure we are meeting your needs.

The information you give us will help us to improve our service.

We will keep your responses confidential and anonymous - there is no need to tell us your name. Participation in this survey is completely voluntary.

Thank you for your time.

Endometriosis Clinic Satisfaction Survey