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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour first appointment will be with either your primary care physician or gynecologist. Because appointments can be brief, and it can be difficult to remember everything you want to discuss, it's a good idea to prepare in advance of your appointment.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including those that may seem unrelated to your condition.
- Make a list of any medications or vitamin supplements you take. Write down doses and how often you take them.
- Take a notebook or notepad with you. Use it to write down important information during your visit.
- Think about questions to ask your doctor. Write down any questions, listing the most important ones first, in case time runs out.
For adenomyosis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- How is adenomyosis diagnosed?
- How much experience do you have in diagnosing and treating adenomyosis?
- What medications are available to treat endometriosis? Is there a certain medication that can improve my symptoms?
- What side effects can I expect from medication use?
- Under what circumstances do you recommend surgery?
- Will I take a medication before or after surgery?
- Could my condition affect my ability to become pregnant?
- Are there any alternative treatments I might try?
Make sure that you understand everything that your doctor tells you. Ask your doctor to repeat information, if needed, or ask follow-up questions for clarification.
What to expect from your doctor
Some questions your doctor might ask include:
- How long have you been experiencing symptoms?
- When do symptoms typically occur?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- When was your last period?
- Could you be pregnant?
- Do your symptoms seem to be related to your menstrual cycle?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- Does anything make your symptoms worse?
- Stewart EA. Adenomyosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 8, 2010.
- Schuiling KD, et al. Benign gynecologic conditions. In: Schuiling KD, et al. Women's Gynecologic Health. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett; 2006:577.
- Drinville JS, et al. Benign disorders of the uterine corpus. In: DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2389400. Accessed Jan. 8, 2010.
- Katz VL. Benign gynecologic lesions: Vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct, ovary. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178499985-2/0/1524/120.html?tocnode=53759294&fromURL=120.html. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Dysmenorrhea. The Merck Manuals: Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec22/ch244/ch244c.html#sec22-ch244-ch244c-211. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Meredith SM, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography for the diagnosis of adenomyosis: Systematic review and metaanalysis. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;201:107.e1.
- Hesla JS, et al. Endometriosis. In: Rock JA, et al. Te Linde's Operative Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:438.
- Panganamamula UR, et al. Is prior uterine surgery a risk factor for adenomyosis? Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;104:1034.
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