Last Updated September 17, 2026
Conditions Center · Genitourinary · Social Security Disability
Also called endo, endometriomas.
Endometriosis can support SSDI or SSI when medically documented disease causes complications that meet or medically equal another listing, or when pain, fatigue, restroom needs, treatment effects, or other supported limitations prevent sustained work. SSA requires medical evidence establishing a medically determinable impairment, but surgery is not automatically required to establish endometriosis.
What is Endometriosis?
NICHD and MedlinePlus describe endometriosis as tissue similar to endometrium growing outside the uterus, often on ovaries, peritoneum, or bowel. It can cause cyclic or chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility. Laparoscopy can confirm implants; imaging may show endometriomas. Treatment includes NSAIDs, hormonal suppression, and surgery. Severity of pain does not always match implant stage.
Common symptoms of Endometriosis
- Chronic or cyclic pelvic pain
- Pain with bowel or bladder function in some people
- Fatigue during flares
- Pain that limits sitting or commuting
- After surgery, recovery time and possible recurrence
How can Endometriosis affect a person’s ability to work?
- Absences during menses or flares and for laparoscopy or excision
- Need for unscheduled restroom access if bowel or bladder is involved
- Reduced sitting, standing, or lifting during pain flares
- Off-task time from pain, heating-pad needs, or medication sedation
- Combined limits when IC or IBD is also documented
Does Social Security have a Listing for Endometriosis?
Social Security does not currently have a listing dedicated solely to Endometriosis. That does not mean a person cannot qualify. SSA may evaluate related manifestations under another listing or continue the sequential evaluation and assess residual functional capacity.
There is no current adult listing titled endometriosis. Gynecologic cancers are evaluated under Listing 13.23, not this page. Digestive complications, if independently documented (for example bowel obstruction from endometriosis), may be considered under 5.00. SSR 15-1p notes endometriosis may co-occur with interstitial cystitis. Pain disorders without a medically determinable impairment do not proceed. Infertility and menstrual irregularity are not listings.
SSA requires a medically determinable gynecologic impairment from an acceptable medical source. Because there is no endometriosis listing, the claim proceeds through other listings only when their criteria are independently met, then RFC. Stage of disease on an operative report is not a listing grade.
Can you qualify if you do not meet an SSA Listing?
Yes. Because there is no dedicated adult listing for endometriosis, SSA may consider complications under other listings when their separate requirements are satisfied. If no listing is met or medically equaled, SSA considers the documented functional effects of endometriosis in the residual functional capacity assessment.
What medical evidence may help document Endometriosis?
- Gynecology records and, when performed, operative and pathology reports
- Imaging of endometriomas
- A flare calendar in clinic notes, not only a function report
- GI or urology records if bowel or bladder implants are treated
- Mental-health notes if depression or anxiety is separately diagnosed
Testing, imaging, and laboratory studies
- Current clinical guidance recognizes that endometriosis may be diagnosed clinically in appropriate cases using history, symptoms, examination findings, and imaging, while laparoscopy can provide surgical confirmation when performed. For a disability claim, the record still must contain acceptable medical evidence establishing a medically determinable impairment.
- CA-125 is not an SSA listing and is not specific
- No staging system in the Blue Book
Hormonal suppression, GnRH analogues, and excision or hysterectomy should be dated with response. Hysterectomy is not an automatic listing or an automatic denial if pain continues from residual disease.
How SSA may evaluate residual functional capacity
Residual functional capacity may address pain flares, sitting or standing tolerance, unscheduled restroom needs, treatment effects, off-task time, and medically supported absences. A diagnosis of endometriosis does not by itself establish that a separate digestive or genitourinary listing is met.
Common issues that can weaken a disability claim involving Endometriosis
A claim may be harder to support when the medical record does not establish endometriosis as a medically determinable impairment, when the frequency and functional effects of symptoms are poorly documented, or when another listing is invoked without evidence satisfying that listing's separate requirements.
What may strengthen the medical documentation
Gynecology records establishing the diagnosis, imaging or operative findings when available, a clinic-reviewed pain or restroom log, and records of missed work that are consistent with the treatment history may help document the severity and functional effects of the condition.
Endometriosis and related medical conditions
- Chronic Back Pain — A symptom, not a listing. SSA needs a medically determinable cause and documented functional limits. This page links the common spine diagnoses.
- Crohn’s Disease — Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Listing 5.06 uses documented intestinal disease plus specified obstruction, laboratory, nutritional, perianal, or repeated-complication criteria.
- Fibromyalgia — A medically determinable impairment under SSR 12-2p when diagnostic criteria are documented. There is no fibromyalgia listing.
- Interstitial Cystitis — Interstitial cystitis has no dedicated SSA listing. SSR 15-1p explains how SSA establishes interstitial cystitis as a medically determinable impairment and considers medical equivalence or residual functional capacity based on the documented pain, urinary frequency or urgency, sleep disruption, treatment, and other functional effects.
- Major Depressive Disorder — Persistent depressive symptoms may be evaluated under Listing 12.04. A diagnosis does not guarantee benefits; SSA also examines severity, duration, and work-related function.
- Ulcerative Colitis — Ulcerative colitis is evaluated under Listing 5.06 for inflammatory bowel disease. SSA requires objective evidence of inflammatory bowel disease and then applies the applicable obstruction, laboratory or nutritional, perianal, or repeated-complication criteria. If the listing is not met, SSA considers the remaining functional effects through residual functional capacity.
How Brock & Stout may help
We establish the medically determinable impairment, gather surgical and flare evidence, and develop sitting-and-attendance RFC without inventing a gynecologic listing. Representation cannot guarantee approval.
Frequently asked questions
No current adult listing is titled endometriosis. SSA may use other listings if their independent criteria are met. Otherwise the claim is evaluated through residual functional capacity.
Hysterectomy is treatment, not a listing. SSA evaluates remaining medically determinable impairments and whether work can be sustained.
Related Brock & Stout resources
Related conditions
Related categories
Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
If Endometriosis is affecting your ability to work, Brock & Stout can review the claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. If we represent you, you do not owe attorney fees or case costs if the claim is denied.
Prefer to send us your information? Request a case evaluation.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
