Table 2.

Barriers and facilitators in the diagnostic process of endometriosis according to the GPs participating in the focus groups between January 2016 and March 2017

Professional experience and competence	Patient characteristics	Guideline factors	Collaboration
Barriers
Low sense of urgency for timely diagnosis	Not returning to the GP when initiated treatment fails	Lack of GP guideline	Lack of understanding gynaecologists’ diagnostic/treatment options
Limited experience with endometriosis	Young women less likely considered for pathologic condition		Low frequency of reporting on endometriosis in correspondence letters
Limited knowledge and skills related to endometriosis			Lack of knowledge in other medical specialists
Insufficient training and literature
Facilitators
Reluctance for referral because lack of gain perceived	Faster referral in case of infertility		Reporting of endometriosis as incidental finding may increase awareness
Recent case or training enhances awareness	Patient engagement promotes referral
	Non-Western European background more easily referred