Women in the UK are waiting nearly nine years for an endometriosis diagnosis, according to new research that suggests waiting times have significantly deteriorated in the past three years. The study by the charity Endometriosis UK found the average diagnosis time has increased to eight years and 10 months, up 10 months since 2020.
The report, based on a survey of 4,371 people diagnosed with the condition, reveals that 47% of respondents visited their GP 10 or more times before receiving a diagnosis. More than half had visited A&E at least once, and only 10% said their GP had mentioned suspected endometriosis at their first or second appointment.
Endometriosis, which affects about one in 10 women of child-bearing age, occurs when tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and can affect fertility. Symptoms include painful periods, pain during bowel movements or urination, and pain during or after sex.
Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, described the waiting times as unacceptable. “Our finding that it now takes even longer to get a diagnosis of endometriosis must be a wake-up call to decision-makers to stop minimising or ignoring the significant impact endometriosis can have on both physical and mental health,” she said.
The report includes examples of patients being dismissed, with one told their pain was “normal” and another being called “dramatic” after visiting a GP as a teenager. In response, the minister for the women’s health strategy, Maria Caulfield, said more must be done to improve experiences, noting that endometriosis is a priority area within the strategy.
Endometriosis UK is calling on governments to commit to a target of an average diagnosis time of one year or less by 2030. The condition can currently only be diagnosed by laparoscopy, and symptoms vary, complicating diagnosis. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said more action is needed, including education and national campaigns.
