GPs to Offer 2 Endometriosis Tests as NHS Targets 9-Year Diagnosis Delays
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
GPs to Offer 2 Endometriosis Tests as NHS Targets 9-Year Diagnosis Delays
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
Summary
Two non-invasive tests for suspected endometriosis — a saliva-based genetic test and an abdominal gut-signal test — will soon be available through GPs in England and Wales under new draft NHS guidance.
The move aims to shorten diagnosis waits that can stretch beyond nine years for a condition affecting 1 in 10 women and now often confirmed only through laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthetic.
Endotest is already being used in an NHS pilot, while EndoSure is in a clinical study at Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospital Trust; GPs will offer one or both only where available and with specialist oversight.
Patient accounts underscore the gap the tests are meant to close: Ami Robertson said she waited from age 16 to 23 for diagnosis, while Simran Uppal, 15, was diagnosed after her family paid privately for the gut test.
NHS bodies will keep gathering evidence because neither test is meant to stand alone, and campaigners say wider GP and nurse training is still needed so symptoms are recognized earlier.
With rapid diagnostics on trial, could a false negative result make the long wait for a diagnosis even worse for some women?
These 'gamechanger' tests promise relief, but will they create new inequalities in care or be accessible to every woman who needs one?
Cutting Endometriosis Diagnosis Time: NICE Endorses Endosure and Endotest for Faster, Non-Invasive Detection
Overview
NICE has issued draft guidance recommending the use of EndoSure and Endotest within the NHS, marking a major shift in endometriosis diagnosis. This move is strongly supported by patient advocacy groups, who see it as a way to address the long-standing problem of delayed diagnosis and improve care for those living with endometriosis. The new tools promise to significantly reduce the time needed for an accurate diagnosis, offering hope for earlier intervention and less suffering. This development signals a new era in endometriosis care, driven by innovation and a focus on better patient outcomes.