gynecologist visit? to see if i have endometriosis?

Question

hi, im 16, and my doctor has referred me to a gynecologist health center. this is my first time, and im wondering what the doctor will do. i think he will probably talk to me first but if he suspects endometriosis what shall i suspect?
thanks

Answer 1

If you are merely there for a well-woman check up, a pelvic exam and any number of relevent tests can be expected (i.e. pap smear). However, if you are there for specific issues such as suspected Endo/pelvic pain, it may be a far more thorough visit and involve a detailed review of your symptoms, etc. It may also involve diagnostic testing follow-up like a CT scan or Ultrasound, etc. Ultimately, if Endo is strongly suspected, you may wish to discuss the surgical diagnosis (required for a true diagnosis) and treatment (best for Endo) option. Some helpful links I encourage you to check out:

http://www.endocenter.org/pdf/2006ScreeningEducationKit.pdf

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erc

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ERCGirlTalk
I particularly encourage you to look into the helpful files and materials of that group

Endo can and most certainly does affect the teen patient. Your best bet for living well in spite of the disease is early diagnosis and intervention, so if you have symptoms, insist on adequate treatment.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Endometriosis can only be 100% diagnosed by doing what is known as laparoscopy. This is a surgical procedure done under Anaesthetic by a gynecologist. If they see any irregularites they will cut some of the tissue out and send it for testing( pathology) and if possible diathermythe endometriosis (this is a type of burning of tissue doesnt hurt you you are asleep and if the area small enough). For some reason unknown to the doctors this bloody awful problem is getting worse more and more young girls are finding out they have endometriosis. I have endo and so does my 21 year old daughter she has just undergone her laparoscopy a few weeks ago. The amazing thing about this is I am a theatre nurse and I scouted for my daughters operation and got to see first hand what was happening to her. She is alot better now and is on the contraceptive Pill full time with no breaks as this helps endometriosis. Please feel free to email me with any questions as I have only answered briefly here.

Answer 3

You can ask to talk to this doctor in plainclothes first before any kind of exam is done if they don't make the suggestion first.

One of the things they will do is to ask you about any symptoms you are noticing with your periods and how you are feeling in general. They will also ask you about when the first day of your last menstrual period is. They ask this because sometimes that can give clues to if a hormone imbalance such as with the thyroid is going on.

They will ask you about what you may have noticed with your period that's different from when you first started.

They will ask you about any pain you have to find out how intense it is as another example.

Then after talking a bit more they will then have you take off your pants and underwear and put a drape over your lower half. Then when you are on the table they will put your feet in the stirrups.

After that is done they will insert a special instrument called a speculum which looks like the bill of a duck. They will also insert a light so they can see inside your vagina and check the vaginal discharge to see if anything is different about it such as infection (sometimes infection can cause pain too). The doctor may do a pap smear after he has taken some of the vaginal discharge for cultures if he finds something wrong there. If he does this it will be done with a special brush to take some of the cells from the cerivx that get sent off for analysis to make sure that nothing is out of the ordinary there.

When they are done with that they will stick one hand inside your vagina to do a pelvic exam. They will be feeling your uterus and ovaries to make sure there is nothing out of the ordinary with them. If that exam hurts that's a clue to the doctor that something is wrong. After that they will take their free hand and put that on your abdomen and press down. They are checking for things out of the ordinary by feeling with both hands. If any part of this exam hurts let the doctor know.

It is understandable to be nervous about this exam but if the doctor is really good they will explain what they are doing as they do it so that you can feel relaxed.

Feel free to ask the doctor any questions as they are doing it. If really good they will be glad to answer any questions you have.

After the exam is done the doctor may have you undergo an ultrasound (a special x-ray exam) to check your ovaries and uterus further, especially if you have pain with the exam. You should get the results back in about a week.

If you ever need to talk some more about this please feel free to e-mail or IM me off site any time.

Answer 4

i got refered to a gyno too, as soon as i walked in she said they couldnt tell without doing an operation and sticking a camera into my stomach to see. dont know if this is normal but my op is next week. she didnt feel my stomach or examine me or anything. hope yours goes better.

Answer 5

Why not ask your doctor this question?