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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the female reproductive tract (gynecologist). Depending on the suspected cause of your pain, you may eventually be referred to a specialist in digestive system problems (gastroenterologist) or a specialist in urinary and gynecological problems (urogynecologist).
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including any other conditions for which you're being treated and the names of any medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up everything you're told during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. Creating your list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.
For chronic pelvic pain, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What are the possible causes of my symptoms or condition?
- What tests do you recommend now?
- If these tests don't pinpoint the cause of my symptoms, what additional tests will you schedule?
- What approach will you recommend if we can't locate an underlying cause?
- What types of treatments are most likely to improve my symptoms?
- For how long will I need to be treated?
- How long might it take for me to feel better?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave extra time to go over any points you'd like to have clarified. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing pelvic pain?
- Has your pain changed or spread over time?
- How often do you experience pelvic pain?
- How severe is your pain, and how long does it last?
- Where is your pain located? Does it always occur in one place?
- Would you describe your pain as sharp or dull?
- Does your pain come in waves or is it constant?
- Can you anticipate when the pain is coming?
- Do you feel pain during urination or a bowel movement?
- Does your menstrual cycle affect your pain?
- Does anything make your pain better or worse?
- Does your pain limit your ability to function? For example, have you ever had to miss school or work because of your pain?
- Is your pain causing difficulty in your marriage or other important personal relationships?
- Have you recently felt down, depressed or hopeless?
- Have you ever had pelvic surgery?
- Have you ever been pregnant?
- Have you ever been treated for a urinary tract or vaginal infection?
- Have you ever been touched against your will?
- What treatments have you tried so far for this condition? How have they worked?
- Are you currently being treated or have you recently been treated for any other medical conditions?
- Hoffman BL. Pelvic pain. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3154265. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- Lentz GM. Differential diagnosis of major gynecologic problems by age group: Vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, pelvic mass. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2011.
- Chronic pelvic pain. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp099.cfm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- Howard F. Evaluation of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
- ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins - Gynecology. Chronic pelvic pain. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;103:589.
- Howard F. Treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2011.
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