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Healthcare

How do i describe my symptoms to a doctor?

  • Short answer
  • Reading level 16-19
  • Say what it feels like, where it is, when it started, how often it happens, and what makes it better or worse. Numbers are far more useful than adjectives: how many days of bleeding, how many pads, how bad out of ten, how long in minutes.

    What this does and does not tell you

    This is general information, not a diagnosis. Only a clinician can examine you, take your history and run tests. The same symptom has different causes in different people.

    If something is sudden, severe, or getting worse quickly, get medical advice rather than reading on.