Do I Have Endometriosis Quiz: How to Start Your Journey
So, you think you may have endometriosis? You've landed at the right page to start investigating! Here, we’ll chat about what endometriosis is, why it's so fairly common (but challenging to diagnose), and share an easy-to-follow endometriosis symptom quiz to help you decide if it’s time to talk to a doctor.
If you still think you may have endometriosis after reading, I’ll also explain why getting an early diagnosis is so important!
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a full-body, chronic health condition where endometrial-like cells grow outside the uterus. These cells can attach anywhere — from the ovaries and fallopian tubes to even the diaphragm and, in rare cases, the brain.
The misplaced tissue leads to inflammation, scar tissue, and damage throughout the body, often causing pelvic pain, infertility, and other serious health conditions. I talk about the entire condition in-depth (as well as how it develops and what we can do about it!) in my best-selling book Heal Endo. For now, let’s just see if you, dear reader, may have it.
Common Endometriosis Symptoms
Endometriosis symptoms can vary wildly — from severe chronic pelvic pain to almost no obvious symptoms at all.
That’s one reason why so many women are diagnosed late (or misdiagnosed for years).
Some of the most common symptoms include:
Pelvic pain (during the menstrual cycle, ovulation, or sexual intercourse)
Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
Painful bowel movements or urination
Severe menstrual cramps
Constipation and other gastrointestinal symptoms
Abdominal pain and bloating
Chronic fatigue
Anxiety or depression
Infertility (experiencing infertility for over a year without another clear cause)
Hormonal imbalances
⚡ Important:
Not everyone who has these symptoms has endometriosis, and not everyone with endometriosis experiences noticeable pain. That’s why a good healthcare provider often looks at the full pattern — not just one or two complaints.
How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed?
As of today, there are a few ways to definitively diagnose endometriosis.
Laparoscopic surgery.
Here’s what happens:
Under anesthesia, a surgeon gently inflates your abdomen with gas (think balloon) to get a better view.
A small camera is inserted through a tiny incision near the belly button.
The surgeon looks for endometriosis lesions, cysts, scar tissue, adhesions, and abnormal findings on pelvic organs like the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Imaging with MRI or Transvaginal Ultrasound
Imaging is quickly becoming an excellent way to diagnose all types of endometriosis except stage 1 (as the most minimal and superficial, we still need some better technology for this). Please note: when diagnosis endo with imaging you MUST (like, really must) have it done with an imaging specialist. An average, run of the mill imaging tech will not be able to diagnose your endometirosis. Nope. People go to special training for this, and the procedure will take up to an hour just to “look around.” So if you’ve had normal, average imaging where they said “no endo” please discount this.
The challenge of official endometriosis diagnosis?
The challenges of both of these is that they’re not easily accessible to many people! Many women don’t want to do a surgery for a diagnosis, whereas centers that offer advanced endometriosis imaging are (currently) few and far between in many countries … such as the United States. This leaves many of us waiting for a simple or accurate diagnosis that doesn’t require medical travel or surgery.
So why care? Because…
Early Diagnosis Matters
Getting an early diagnosis helps you take control of your health before endometriosis becomes more severe.
Untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to the reproductive system, worsening pain, experiencing infertility, and a much bigger need for complex treatment later.
If you experience pain that's intense, disruptive, or getting worse — especially around your menstrual cycle — it's smart to start tracking a very detailed menstrual calendar and advocating for yourself with a trusted doctor.
Take the Endometriosis Symptom Quiz
This "Do I Have Endometriosis Quiz" is an informal way to spot important red flags.
Use it as a tool — but remember, only a trained professional can diagnose endometriosis.
👉 Instructions:
Give yourself 1 point for every symptom you experience. Then tally your total!
🔴 Red-Light Clues: Strong Signs You May Have Endometriosis
Pelvic pain so bad you end up at the ER
Severe pain during sexual intercourse
Gastrointestinal symptoms (like bloating, diarrhea, constipation) that worsen at menses or cause severe pain
Painful bowel movements or stabbing rectal pain
Severe ovulation cramps ("killer ovulation pain")
Cyclic abdominal pain, sciatic pain, shoulder or rib pain tied to your menstrual cycle
Needing heating pads and strong painkillers every cycle (with little relief)
Infertility lasting over a year
Sudden episodes of pelvic or rectal pain that stop you from functioning
If you checked any of these — take it seriously. These are strong indicators.
🟡 Yellow-Light Clues: Possible Endometriosis Symptoms
Consistent but moderate menstrual cramps
Ovulation pain that's more than a mild twinge
Excessive bleeding or very heavy periods
Irregular bleeding outside of periods (mid-cycle spotting, post-sex bleeding)
Ongoing bladder pain, frequent urination, or burning (could mimic IC)
IBS-like symptoms (constipation, diarrhea, bloating)
Really bad PMS (mood swings, cravings, sadness)
Fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
Family history of endometriosis (especially maternal side)
Other inflammatory health conditions (like eczema, IBD, psoriasis, Celiac, etc.)
Iron or zinc deficiencies
"Random symptoms" without clear cause — rashes, insomnia, allergies, joint pain
Chronic allergies
If you checked off several yellow clues, stay alert! They can strongly suggest endometriosis or related conditions.
Tally Your Points
✅ Red Light Symptoms: ___________
✅ Yellow Light Symptoms: ___________
Even one red-light clue should encourage you to seek a real medical evaluation.
Numerous yellow clues? It's worth deeper exploration, too.
Endometriosis vs. PCOS
Wondering if it might be PCOS instead?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) shares a few symptoms (like irregular periods, hormonal imbalances, and experiencing infertility) — but pain is NOT a symptom of PCOS and androgen excess is not a symptom of endometriosis.
PCOS = hormonal and/or inflammatory issues, often without pelvic or menstrual pain.
Endometriosis = inflammation, scarring, chronic pelvic pain.
You can have both conditions at the same time, but careful diagnosis is essential.
When to Consider Surgery
If you have significant symptoms and may have endometriosis, a laparoscopy is still the gold standard to diagnose.
Make sure your doctor is skilled in recognizing different types of lesions, and request a full photo record of your surgery.
Proper diagnosis matters because:
If fibroids or other conditions are causing your pain, they can be treated.
If endometriosis is present, other treatments like surgery, diet changes, and hormone management can be started.
Endo is progressive for many women — early intervention helps prevent serious complications.
Best Next Steps After Suspecting Endometriosis
If you suspect endometriosis, some great next steps to take are (in no specific order, they’re all important):
1) Diet and lifestyle modulation. Read my book on endometriosis (Heal Endo) and learn about the disease and how to optimize health to address it
2) Surgical consult. Reach out to an endometriosis specialist to check in on your disease stage and surgical options. icarebetter.com is a great place to find a surgeon.
3) Pelvic floor physical therapy. Many of us with endo have pelvic floor issues that can radically contribute to our symptoms, be they pain or digestive. This should be covered by insurance if you have endo symptoms! Work with your doctor to get a referral.rn about endometriosis through trusted resources (like my book, Heal Endo).
4) Track your menstrual cycle and symptoms carefully using a detailed menstrual calendar! This can be life saving when you’re teasing apart which symptoms are connected to what timing or food or activity.
5) Discuss symptoms openly with your doctor — even those that feel unrelated.
Closing Thoughts
Endometriosis is life-altering, but the right steps early can lead to much better health outcomes.
Whether you scored high or low on this endometriosis quiz, keep advocating for yourself.
You deserve answers, compassionate care, and a life where your pain is not dismissed.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer:The information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health and well-being.