Whether you have been diagnosed with endometriosis or suspect you have it, finding professional help is essential if you are to treat and manage your symptoms successfully. Just as choosing a good gynaecologist is tricky, so is finding someone to treat your endometriosis. You need to know how to choose an endometriosis specialist to get the proper treatment. There’s a lot to consider, but there’s no need to fret; keep reading and find out where to start and how to find a good endometriosis specialist.
Look For Specialist Education and Experience
The ideal endometriosis specialist will have studied beyond their gynaecological training to understand endometriosis better. From there, you want to know that this doctor has had a lot of experience treating women within this niche field. Our endometriosis specialists at Sydney endometriosis have specialised in both endometriosis imaging and advanced laparoscopic surgery. Our surgeon sonologists not only can use ultrasound to diagnose most forms of endometriosis but also use ultrasound to plan the management.
Reviews and Referrals
Getting a trustworthy referral to an endometriosis specialist is always comforting. Speak to friends and family members who may have endometriosis or may know someone who does and has had success with a particular doctor. You can also ask your physician or your gynaecologist about getting a referral. Once you have at least one name, you can dig further to learn more about these doctors. Look for reviews on Google, medical forums, and even local support groups.
Ask Questions During Your Appointment
Referrals and experience are one thing, but you still need to trust your endometriosis specialist. To get a sense of the doctor’s approach and general bedside manner, ask them lots of questions. Pay attention to whether they listen to you and how thoroughly they answer your questions. You want to get the feeling that they know what they are talking about, they are listening to you, and that you can trust them. If you walk away feeling unsatisfied, look for another doctor.
Know When to Keep Looking
Let’s get to specifics: endometriosis is a complex condition, and your doctor must know how to manage and treat your symptoms. Every woman suffers differently, so it’s crucial that the doctor doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to endometriosis care.
Reg flags to watch out for:
- The doctor recommends a hysterectomy as the best solution
- They rush to offer definitive answers without thoroughly examining you and determining the exact severity of your endometriosis
- They say symptoms will go away with menopause or by having a baby
- They don’t take your pain and other symptoms seriously
- The doctor says you are too young to have endometriosis – adolescents have been diagnosed with severe endometriosis
- They say mild endometriosis won’t affect your fertility
- The doctor is unwilling to pursue additional tests if the initial, less invasive tests offer no definitive results
- They brush off your symptoms as only IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), many of the symptoms overlap, but you could have both endometriosis and IBS
Remember that not every endometriosis specialist will be the right fit for your needs and approach to your health. Most importantly, if you are still struggling with endometriosis after dealing with the same doctor for a while, it’s time to find a new endometriosis specialist.
