Game-Changing Tests Approved for NHS Use
Two innovative tests for endometriosis—one analysing saliva and the other measuring electrical signals in the gut—have been approved for use on the NHS for three years, offering a potential end to the 'unacceptable delays' that many women face in getting a diagnosis. The tests, which can be performed in primary care, aim to speed up identification of the condition, which affects approximately 1.5 million women in the UK.
The saliva test, known as Endotest, looks for specific molecules called microRNAs—tiny biological signals that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely present. The second test, EndoSure, detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads placed on the abdomen. Patients fast for six to eight hours beforehand and then drink water until full during the 45-minute test, allowing the device to record gut activity accurately.
Addressing Unacceptable Delays
Dr Gail Busby, a consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the devastating impact of delayed diagnosis. 'Endometriosis can devastate young people's lives, and many spend years being told their pain is normal,' she said. 'These tests are a game-changer because they give us answers much earlier, without the need for invasive surgery, and that means we can start the right treatment sooner. An earlier diagnosis doesn't just change one person's life, it frees up appointments and surgical slots for everyone waiting for care.'
Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, stressed the long-standing problem: 'For too long, those with endometriosis have faced unacceptable delays in accessing a diagnosis, especially if from ethnically diverse communities, and diagnosis times have been going up, not down, in the last decade. Speeding up diagnosis times is much needed and would be a major step forward in reducing disease impact and supporting those with endometriosis to live well with the disease.'
Clinical Guidance and Usage
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the tests are intended for women where endometriosis is still suspected despite a normal clinical examination and either negative or inconclusive imaging results, or where imaging has not been used. The results from both tests can be used alongside standard clinical practice to support decisions about diagnosis, referral, and management. Currently, the only definitive way to confirm endometriosis is through laparoscopy, a surgical procedure carried out under general anaesthetic.
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. Our draft guidance reflects our commitment to getting promising innovations to patients quickly, while making sure the evidence to support their wider use is built in a rigorous way.'
Patient Story: A Life-Changing Diagnosis
Simran Chavda began experiencing severe pelvic pain at 13, but repeated visits to her GP and A&E failed to identify the cause. She eventually had the EndoSure test privately. Simran, now 15, 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. The test itself was easy, it wasn't painful at all. Just drinking water and being monitored. Really simple.'
Simran, from Huddersfield, underwent surgery after the test confirmed widespread endometriosis. She added: '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.' Her mother, Sharan Uppal, 46, a GP, said the test gave them the evidence needed to push for a referral. 'We were hitting roadblocks everywhere. I lost count of how many times I took Simran to the GP. We ended up in A&E three or four times, spending over ten hours on one occasion, and nobody would take ownership. When the test came back strongly positive, it gave me the empowerment to go back to our GP and push for a referral.'
Sharan added: 'That test opened doors for us to get Simran the help she needed at a time when NHS waiting times meant we couldn't afford to wait. I would recommend it to anyone. It's a quick, straightforward test that doesn't hurt, and if it means someone finally gets the attention they need to start getting better, that's a massive thing. Early diagnosis and management of endometriosis can change the trajectory and improve the quality of someone's life.'
