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You suspect you may have endometriosis or adenomyosis

How can I tell if I might have endometriosis?

Topic:Diagnosis
Affected areas:pelvicabdominalbowel

Endometriosis can be hard to “know” from symptoms alone because it can look like many other conditions—and the amount of pain doesn’t reliably match how much disease is present. Common clues include painful periods that disrupt life, pelvic pain between periods, pain with sex, bowel or bladder symptoms that flare with your cycle, and infertility, but some patients have subtle or even no symptoms. A key pattern we listen for is whether symptoms are cyclic, progressively worsening, or linked to specific triggers like bleeding, ovulation, intercourse, or bowel movements.


In our evaluation process, we start by hearing your full story in detail—symptom patterns, past treatments, what helped, what didn’t—so we can distinguish endometriosis from look-alikes and identify common coexisting drivers (like pelvic floor dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, vascular congestion, or nerve sensitization) that can amplify pain. We may use expertly interpreted ultrasound or MRI to look for suspected endometriosis, endometriomas, adenomyosis, or other pelvic conditions, while recognizing that imaging can’t rule endometriosis out. When symptoms and findings point that direction, minimally invasive excision surgery is the gold-standard way to confirm diagnosis and treat disease.


If you’re stuck in “everything is normal” limbo but your symptoms are not, reach out to schedule a consultation so our team can review your records, map your symptom pattern, and outline a clear path to answers—whether that means deeper evaluation, targeted testing, or planning for excision.

An illustration of a female standing next to a female doctor with an ultrasound machine between them.

Think You Might Have Endometriosis?

If you suspect endometriosis or adenomyosis may be causing your symptoms, our specialists can provide expert evaluation and guidance on next steps.

Schedule a Consultation

Reach Out

Have a question?

Dr. Steven Vasilev delivers best-in-class endometriosis guidance and a personalized treatment plan—built on evidence and your unique biology.


Led by Steven Vasilev, MD—an internationally recognized endometriosis specialist & MIGS surgeon—Lotus Endometriosis Institute is virtual-forward, with many patients traveling nationally for care. Clinical evaluation and surgical treatment are provided in California.

Santa Monica, CA

2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Operating Hours

8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday

Arroyo Grande, CA

154 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420