How to Describe Your Symptoms
When you visit your GP or specialist, you don't need to know what's causing your symptoms.
You don't need medical knowledge.
And you certainly don't need to diagnose yourself.
Your job is much simpler.
Your job is to describe what's happening.
That might sound easy.
In reality, it's one of the hardest parts of any appointment.
When you've been living with symptoms for months—or even years—they become your normal.
Explaining them to someone else can feel surprisingly difficult.
Start With Your Main Concern
Imagine someone asks:
"What brings you in today?"
Many of us immediately start telling the whole story.
Instead, begin with one simple sentence.
For example:
"I've been having very painful periods."
or
"I've had bacterial vaginosis four times this year."
or
"We've been trying to conceive for two years."
That gives your healthcare professional a clear starting point.
Describe the Symptom
Instead of trying to explain everything at once, think about the symptom itself.
Ask yourself:
What does it feel like?
Where is it?
When does it happen?
How long does it last?
Has it changed?
You don't need medical words.
Your own words are often more useful.
Instead of:
"It's painful."
Try:
"It's a sharp pain low down on my left side."
or
"It feels like intense cramping that stops me standing upright."
Those descriptions help build a much clearer picture.
Talk About Timing
When does it happen?
For example:
Every month?
Every day?
During your period?
After sex?
After eating?
Only at night?
Timing can sometimes provide valuable clues.
Explain How It Affects Your Life
This is something many people forget to mention.
Symptoms aren't just about pain.
They're about impact.
Instead of saying:
"My periods hurt."
You could say:
"I have to take time off work."
or
"I can't look after my children properly for two days every month."
or
"I'm afraid to leave the house because I don't know when the symptoms will start."
That helps your healthcare professional understand the effect the symptoms are having on your life.
Mention Patterns
Think about whether you've noticed anything that keeps happening.
For example:
Does the symptom always come back?
Does it happen at the same time each month?
Does it happen after certain activities?
Has it become more frequent?
Patterns don't provide a diagnosis.
But they provide valuable information.
Tell Them What's Changed
Healthcare professionals often want to know whether something is different from your usual health.
You might say:
"This is new."
"It's getting worse."
"It used to happen occasionally but now it's every month."
"The treatment used to work, but now it doesn't."
Changes are often just as important as the symptom itself.
It's Okay to Say...
You don't have to sound medical.
Simple sentences are often the most powerful.
For example:
"This isn't normal for me."
"I'm worried because it keeps coming back."
"Something has changed."
"It's affecting my everyday life."
"I don't know how to explain it, but something doesn't feel right."
Those are all perfectly reasonable things to say.
My Story
Looking back, I realise I often focused on the symptom that had brought me into the appointment that day.
I talked about the BV.
Or the thrush.
Or the urinary tract infection.
What I didn't always explain was the pattern.
That these things kept returning.
That infertility had become part of the story too.
I wish I'd understood that describing the whole picture wasn't complaining.
It was giving my healthcare professional information they couldn't know unless I told them.
What You Don't Need to Do
You don't need to:
❌ Diagnose yourself.
❌ Use medical terminology.
❌ Convince your GP that something is wrong.
❌ Have all the answers.
Your healthcare professional brings medical knowledge.
You bring your lived experience.
Both are important.
Questions Worth Asking
If you're unsure whether you've explained your symptoms clearly, you might ask:
Is there any other information that would be helpful?
Have I explained this clearly?
Would it help if I kept a symptom diary?
Are there particular symptoms you'd like me to monitor?
If anything changes, what would you like me to look out for?
Medical Words Made Simple
Symptom
Something you experience or notice about your health, such as pain, bleeding, tiredness or changes in your body.
Pattern
Something that happens repeatedly or in a similar way over time.
Severity
How mild or severe a symptom is, and how much it affects your daily life.
I Wish Someone Had Explained...
For years, I thought I needed to explain my symptoms perfectly.
Now I realise something much simpler.
I didn't need perfect words.
I just needed to tell my story honestly.
It's okay to say:
"I'm not sure how to explain it."
Your healthcare professional isn't expecting a polished presentation.
They're trying to understand your experience.
Key Takeaways
Start with your main concern.
Describe what the symptom feels like in your own words.
Explain when it happens and how it affects your life.
Mention recurring symptoms and patterns.
You don't need to know the diagnosis to describe your experience well.
🌿 A Simple Way to Describe Any Symptom
If you're not sure where to start, remember these six questions:
What?
What is happening?
Where?
Where is the symptom?
When?
When does it happen?
How Often?
How frequently does it occur?
How Does It Affect You?
What stops you doing?
What's Changed?
Is it new, getting worse or becoming more frequent?
If you can answer those six questions, you've already given your healthcare professional valuable information.
Hope
Many people worry they'll forget something important or explain their symptoms badly.
Please don't let that stop you asking for help.
There isn't a perfect way to describe what you're experiencing.
There is only your way.
And your story deserves to be heard.
A Gentle Reminder
Your body whispers before it screams.
Not every whisper means something serious.
But persistent symptoms deserve thoughtful conversations, informed questions and healthcare professionals who are willing to listen.
If something doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to ask again.