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.

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.

When and where do I have pain and what is it like? (You may want to start a pain diary until your clinic visit)
Does anything provoke the pain and is it cyclical in nature?
What medications am I taking and do they help?
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.

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.