Distinct hormone fingerprint paves way for endometriosis blood test

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have discovered a unique hormone pattern in the blood of people with endometriosis

The breakthrough challenges long-held medical assumptions about the condition and could lead to the development of the first simple, non-invasive diagnostic blood test.

The study, published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, was conducted in collaboration with the Universities of Liverpool, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

Challenging the estrogen model

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. These cells respond to monthly hormonal shifts, leading to severe inflammation, pain, and scar tissue.

Traditionally, medical science has viewed endometriosis as a disorder driven entirely by female hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Because of this, research into the role of androgens—often referred to as male hormones, though naturally present in females—remained highly limited.

The Edinburgh team shifted focus toward these overlooked androgens, specifically a sub-group produced by the adrenal glands called 11-oxygenated androgens. By analysing blood samples from 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the condition, researchers discovered a distinct “hormone fingerprint.” Individuals with endometriosis showed significantly elevated levels of a specific androgen called 11-ketotestosterone.

An endometriosis blood test: Over 95% diagnostic accuracy

By tracking this specific hormone signature, researchers successfully differentiated patients with and without the condition, correctly identifying more than 95% of endometriosis patients in the study cohort.

If validated in larger trials, this proprietary technology could revolutionise a diagnostic pipeline that is currently heavily flawed:

• The current standard:

  • Diagnosing endometriosis currently requires invasive laparoscopic surgery to physically locate and biopsy tissue patches.

• The diagnostic delay:

  • Due to the lack of non-invasive tools, it takes an average of nine years to receive an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK.

During this multi-year delay, patients are unable to access targeted treatments, allowing the painful and inflammatory disease to progress. A reliable blood test could compress this diagnostic timeline down to just a few months.

Commercial development and future therapeutics

The University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations, is actively seeking industry partners to help develop and scale a commercial diagnostic blood test based on this discovered hormone footprint.

Beyond diagnostic utility, uncovering the active role of androgens opens up entirely new avenues for drug development. Rather than relying solely on conventional estrogen-blocking therapies, the discovery provides researchers with a new biological pathway to develop targeted, innovative treatments for the millions of individuals affected by the condition worldwide.