03/03/2026
“Time after Time”: The Importance of a Thorough History and Physical Exam
by Jennifer Jaggi, MD
The classic history and physical exam—taught as a foundation in medical school—can sometimes feel like a lost art in an era of 15-minute appointments and rapid-fire lab panels. In a healthcare system increasingly shaped by efficiency metrics and electronic documentation, it is easy to default to what is measurable: labs, imaging, numbers. Yet in complex conditions such as endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, the most valuable diagnostic tools remain remarkably simple—talking, listening, and performing a thorough, thoughtful exam.
I was recently speaking with a colleague about an experience many of us have had: receiving a call from the Emergency Department where the first several minutes are spent reviewing lab values and CT findings. When we ask, “What did the exam show?” there can be a pause. The oversight is a reflection of a system that too often prioritizes data over bedside assessment. Labs and imaging are essential tools, and we are fortunate to have them. But they should be extensions of clinical reasoning, not replacements for it. Without the context provided by a careful history and exam, they can mislead as easily as they can clarify.
When we see a new patient for consultation at Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery (PEPS), we have the privilege of spending 45–60 minutes together. That time is intentional. By the end of a thorough history and focused pelvic exam, we often have a strong sense of what we expect to see on ultrasound. When we then perform that ultrasound ourselves, it becomes an extension of the exam. The imaging is not leading the diagnosis; it is refining a clinical picture that has already begun to take shape through conversation and examination.
The time pressures on healthcare providers—particularly in primary care and urgent care settings—are real, and it is important to acknowledge them. Not every setting allows for an hour-long visit. But in the evaluation of complex pelvic pain, there is rarely a meaningful shortcut. The diagnosis seldom resides in a single test; rather, it emerges from patterns—cyclical symptoms, bowel or bladder changes, and responses to prior treatments—that come into focus while listening to a patient’s story.
Embracing the basics does not mean rejecting technology. It means remembering what should come first. Sit down. Ask thoughtful questions. Listen carefully. Examine deliberately. Then use imaging and laboratory studies to support – or in some cases challenge – what you have begun to understand. In complex conditions like endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, there is no substitute for a careful history, a thoughtful exam, and the time it takes to piece together the whole picture. CHECK OUT OUR EDUCATION PAGE FOR MORE BLOGS! 💛💛💛https://pacificendometriosis.com/education/
