When it comes to endometriosis, gynecologists are the absolute worst place you can go. Gynecologists are not qualified to make a diagnosis of endometriosis. It surprises me the treatment a medical professional can give to a patient just because they don’t want to lose their license.

Here are some of the technicalities of what a gynecologist can do for endometriosis.

General gynecologists can provide a presumptive diagnosis of endometriosis based on symptoms and start initial medical treatments, but they often lack the specialized surgical training required for a definitive diagnosis or advanced excision. [ 1, 2]

General Gynecologist Capabilities

Symptom Evaluation: Review medical history and discuss pelvic pain or painful periods.

Clinical Exams: Perform pelvic exams to check for tenderness, nodules, or fixed organs.

Basic Imaging: Order initial tests like a transvaginal ultrasound to check for large cysts or endometriomas.

Presumptive Treatment: Start hormonal medications (like birth control or GnRH agonists) to manage pain without surgery according to updated guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Limitations of General Gynecologists

Missed Disease: Standard ultrasounds and MRIs cannot visualize superficial endometriosis lesions or adhesions.

Surgical Skill Gap: General gynecologists may miss subtle lesions during standard laparoscopy or perform incomplete removals (ablation instead of deep excision), which can lead to persistent pain.

When to See a Specialist

Complex Cases: If deep infiltrating endometriosis, bowel involvement, or previous failed surgeries are suspected.

Gold Standard Diagnosis: A definitive diagnosis requires a Laparoscopy with Biopsy performed by a skilled surgeon or minimally invasive gynecological surgeon who specializes in excision.

Sources: fertility center.com, https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/prevention-wellness/what-doctors-want-patients-know-about-endometriosis

Now majority of this is true. Gynecologists lack the specialized training to test for endometriosis. However, what Gynecologists and doctors alike don’t want you to know is that instead of being encouraging of a diagnosis, even if it means seeing someone else besides the doctor in front of you, they would much rather gaslit you into believing you don’t have it. They prefer to dismiss you in all of your symptoms, telling you it is all so normal.

Please understand, having intense pain, massive blood clots, pain that causes you to throw up, and more is all not normal. Sadly, symptoms like this are exactly what endometriosis is. I write this today in hopes to help people understand how gynecologists really aren’t where we can go. Even those rare gynecologists that actually take your condition seriously, they don’t even want to make the consideration. Most gynecologists are taught that endometriosis is so rare.

What can be considered endometriosis:

Painful periods: Severe cramping, lower back pain, and stomach pain that can start before a period and last several days.

Pain during or after sex: Often described as a deep pain rather than surface discomfort.

Pain with bowel movements or urination: Most likely to happen during menstrual periods.

Heavy bleeding: Passing large amounts of blood or experiencing bleeding between periods.

Infertility: Difficulty getting pregnant, sometimes discovered during fertility evaluations.

Digestive issues: Fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, particularly around the time of a period

This is also just a small list to start with. There are so many more symptoms that encompass endometriosis that doctors still are not even aware of.

If you have any symptoms listed or similar symptoms, please consider seeing an endometriosis specialist or at the very least consider seeking out some advocacy foundations about endometriosis. These are sources that will help provide you with the information needed to at the very least gage if you need to see a specialist. If need be as well, having an advocate for appointments is encouraged. They will be able to help you have a supporter with you in your struggle of having endometriosis. I wish everyone reading this well in your health journey!

#endometriosis #gynecologists #endometriosissymptoms #gynecologicalcare #chronicillness