Mar 2026
Endometriosis
Introduction
This tool is designed to help clinicians understand, assess and manage endometriosis. Up to 10% of Canadian women are affected by this disease, and an unknown number of gender-diverse individuals are affected by endometriosis.
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Information
About the tool
This clinical tool is designed to guide discussions and decision-making between clinicians and people living with endometriosis. It aims to support primary care clinicians with:
- The timely assessment and diagnosis of endometriosis through symptom recognition, trauma-informed history-taking and physical examination, appropriate investigations and differential diagnosis.
- Selecting, initiating, and managing pharmacological therapies for endometriosis-related pain and underlying causes through shared decision-making and guidance on when to consider referral.
- Discussing non-pharmacological strategies, where appropriate, to help manage endometriosis-related pain and improve quality of life.
- Follow-up and monitoring by reviewing the effectiveness and tolerability of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments and adjusting management plans as needed.
The Endometriosis tool was developed using the CEP’s integrated knowledge translation approach. This approach ensures that clinicians are engaged throughout the development processes through the application of user-centered design methodology. Clinical leadership was provided by Dr. Marina Malak. Leaders from the primary care sector, key organizations, persons with lived experience and end users were also engaged throughout the tool development process to provide feedback and support the tool’s refinement.
The tool is among several clinical tools developed as part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative. Funded by the Ministry of Health, this initiative supports primary care providers with the development of a series of clinical tools and health information resources.
Clinical leads
Marina Malak
MD, CCFP, BSC. N
Dr. Marina Malak is a family physician in Mississauga, Ontario, and the Director of Assessment and Competence of Family Medicine/Enhanced Skills at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine (TMU SoM). She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and McMaster University.
She is a board member of the National Committee of Continuing Professional Development at the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), and a Peer Guide and Mentor with the Ontario College of Family Physicians of Ontario (OCFP). She is also an advisory member of the Halton Physicians Association, and a community physician leader with Trillium Health Partners.
She is passionate about patient care; medical education; and promoting wellness. She authored her first book, Recipe for Recovery’ after recovering from a decade-long battle with anorexia nervosa; she subsequently went on to obtain her Diploma in Psychotherapy from the Association for Psychological Therapies in Canada (APT).
Her new blog, “It’s a Balancing Act” describes her journey as a physician and individual navigating illness. Here, her shameless love of puns, along with her passion for writing, allows others to relate to navigating the ups and downs of life. You can walk the tightrope on her blog here: https://substack.com/@mmbalanceact?r=7x086d&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile.
Dr. Malak provided clinical leadership and was offered compensation for her role.
Topic Expert Group
- Deanna Telner *insert credentials*
- Jamie Kroft *insert credentials*
- Anne-Marie, Lived Experience Advisor
- Tanya Gravel, Lived Experience Advisor
Topic Expert Group members were offered an honorarium for their participation. Thank you to all our members for their work!
Conflict of Interest
Usability participants received a token of appreciation (e.g., gift certificate).