The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved two non-invasive tests for endometriosis, potentially reducing the average diagnosis wait of over nine years. The draft guidance supports the use of EndoSure and Endotest on the NHS for three years while further evidence is collected.
How the Tests Work
Endotest uses a saliva sample to detect microRNAs linked to endometriosis, while EndoSure measures electrical signals in the gut via sensor pads placed on the abdomen. Neither test alone diagnoses the condition, but they can identify women who need further investigation, speeding up treatment.
Impact on Patients
Endometriosis affects one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, causing pelvic pain, heavy periods, fatigue, and infertility. A survey by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis of over 10,000 women found that more than half visited their GP more than 10 times before diagnosis, and over half attended A&E for symptoms.
Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, healthtech programme director at NICE, said: “A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade, with the UK average standing at nine years and four months, and rising to 11 years for those from ethnically diverse communities. That delay means living with chronic pelvic pain that affects daily life, relationships and work. These technologies have the potential to change that by giving primary care professionals better non-invasive tools to identify endometriosis earlier, allowing earlier and better treatment.”
Patient Story
Simran Chavda, 15, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, developed severe pelvic pain at age 13 and spent two years seeking answers. Her mother paid for the gut test, which came back positive. Simran said: “Getting my diagnosis honestly felt like the best thing in the world. Everyone kept saying it might be irritable bowel syndrome. I was sent to hospital multiple times and sent back home. When I finally found out what it was, I was so relieved because now I knew what the next step was.” She added: “The test itself was easy, it wasn’t painful at all. Just drinking water and being monitored. Really simple. And I’m already starting to feel better after my surgery. I know it’s never going to go away completely, but I know I’m not going to be in pain all the time, and that means everything.”
Expert Commentary
Dr Gail Busby, consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a gynaecologist working with both adults and adolescents, I’ve seen first-hand how endometriosis can devastate young people’s lives, causing them to miss school, struggle through GCSEs and miss out on the experiences that matter most during those formative years. Too many of my patients have spent years being told their pain is normal when it isn’t. An earlier diagnosis doesn’t just change one person’s life, it frees up appointments and surgical slots for everyone waiting for care.”
The tests will be rolled out to GP practices, though not all surgeries will have immediate access. Patients without access should be overseen by a healthcare professional with expertise in diagnosing endometriosis.
