Two “gamechanger” tests set to speed up endometriosis diagnosis on the NHS

Two endometriosis tests could cut years from diagnosis after NICE backed their temporary NHS use in England and Wales.

EndoSure and Endotest have been recommended in draft guidance, with one able to provide results in 45 minutes. Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere, including around the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Symptoms can include painful periods, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating and pain during or after sex. Diagnosis can involve ultrasound scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or laparoscopy.

A laparoscopy is keyhole surgery in which a camera is inserted through a small cut in the abdomen. Despite the effect the condition can have on physical and mental health, women can wait years for a diagnosis.

The average wait in the UK is nine years and four months, rising to 11 years for women from ethnically diverse communities, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Long waits can increase suffering, prolong poor health and allow the condition to progress, making it more difficult to treat. Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, NICE's Healthtech Programme Director, 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."

She said delays could lead to chronic pain affecting daily life, relationships and work.

She added: "These technologies have the potential to transform endometriosis diagnosis by giving primary care professionals better non-invasive tools to identify the condition earlier, enabling earlier intervention and improved treatment outcomes. Our draft guidance reflects our commitment to bringing promising innovations to patients more quickly, while ensuring the evidence supporting their wider use is gathered through a rigorous evaluation process."

Endotest examines a saliva sample for microRNAs, tiny biological markers that can indicate the presence of endometriosis.

The sample is sent to a laboratory and the result returned to a GP or another healthcare professional to inform the next steps in diagnosis and care. EndoSure uses sensor pads placed on the abdomen to measure electrical signals in the gut. Women must fast for between six and eight hours before the 45-minute test. During the procedure, they drink water until they feel full, helping the device record gut activity accurately. Results are available as soon as the test is complete.

The draft recommendation, published on Tuesday, approves both technologies for three years while further evidence is collected on how well they work.

NICE will then decide whether to approve them permanently for NHS use. NICE said a third test, DotEndo, needs more research before it can be recommended. EndoSure and Endotest are not designed to diagnose the condition on their own.

They are intended for women whose symptoms still suggest endometriosis after a normal clinical examination and negative or inconclusive imaging results, or when imaging has not been carried out.

Dr Gail Busby, a consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "These tests are a gamechanger 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, of Endometriosis UK, welcomed the tests. She said their introduction should be supported by education for GPs and nurses to ensure prompt access and prevent symptoms from going unrecognised.

With thanks to our media partner, FemTech World, for providing this article.