Endometriosis causes inflammation and scar tissue to form in the pelvic region (Stock image)

'Game-changer' tests for endometriosis approved in UK

07 Jul 2026, 07:49 · RTE.ie

Women in the UK with suspected endometriosis will no longer have to spend years trying to get a diagnosis thanks to new "game-changer" tests approved for use in the GP surgery.

In a bid to dramatically cut the time it takes for women to be told whether they have the condition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has given the green light to EndoSure and Endotest on the NHS.

With Endotest, women give a saliva sample which is then sent off to the lab to check for tiny biological markers called microRNAs. This indicates the presence of endometriosis.

Meanwhile, EndoSure can detect the condition by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen.

Women fast for six to eight hours beforehand and then drink water for 45 minutes during this test.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, which causes inflammation and scar tissue to form in the pelvic region and sometimes in other parts of the body.

It is thought that over 200,000 women and girls are affected by it in Ireland.

The condition affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, but NICE says the average time it takes to get a diagnosis is more than nine years.

The new draft recommendation approves the two tests for three years in the NHS, during which time additional evidence will be collected on how well they work. Final approval could then be given.

A third technology, DotEndo, requires more research, NICE said, before it can be approved.

None of the tests are designed to act as standalone diagnostic tests but should ensure women receive a diagnosis and treatment much faster.

In a survey of more than 10,000 women conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on endometriosis, more than half reported visiting their GP more than 10 times before receiving a diagnosis.

More than half of women surveyed also said they had been to A&E because of their symptoms.

Delays in diagnosis can occur due to a variety of factors, including the expertise of medics in using transvaginal ultrasounds and long waiting times for hospital gynaecology services.

Current tests for endometriosis include ultrasound scans, MRI or a laparoscopy - where a camera is inserted through a tiny cut in the stomach.

With Endotest, the lab result is returned to the GP or other healthcare professional to inform next steps in diagnosis and care of the patient.

EndoSure results are available as soon as the test is complete.

According to NICE, the tests are for women where endometriosis is still suspected even though they have a normal clinical examination and either negative or inconclusive imaging results, or where imaging has not been used.

In March, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced that an awareness campaign around endometriosis would be rolled out across schools and workplaces.

The Endometriosis Association of Ireland has said that hundreds of women are travelling abroad for surgery due to a lack of specialist services in Ireland.