If you think you may have endometriosis, keeping a diary of symptoms (when they started, timing and severity), is a good way to help your health practitioner or gynaecologist with the diagnosis. Some things to consider and keep a note of are as follows:

Periods

• At what age did your periods start?

• When did your last period start?

• Are your periods regular?

• How long do your periods last?

• How heavy are your periods

• Do you pass clots or have flooding during your periods?

• Do you have a brown discharge before your period starts?

• Do you have bleeding or spotting between your periods?

Period pain

• Do you have pain with your periods?

• When did the pain start?

• For how many hours or days does your pain last?

• Where does it hurt?

• Is the pain getting worse?

• Does it restrict you from normal activities? If yes, how?

• Are there any measures that help relieve your period pain?

• Is it accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea?

Other pain

• Do you have pain during or after intercourse?

• Do you have pain when passing urine or using your bowels?

• Do you have pain at ovulation?

• Does it restrict you from normal activities? If yes, how?

• What makes your pain better or worse?

• Do you use pain medication? If so, what do you take and does it work?

Other symptoms

• Do you have constipation and/or diarrhoea?

• Do you have lower back pain or leg pain?

• Do you suffer from chronic fatigue or migraines?

• When do you experience the above symptoms?

• Have you ever tried to conceive? If yes, for how long?

• Has your mother or sister had endometriosis?

Content Updated March 06, 2008