New tests could mean faster endometriosis diagnosis

Why it matters: Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, yet the average time to diagnosis is more than nine years.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending two technologies, EndoSure and EndoTest, to be used in the NHS while more evidence is gathered on how well they work.

The details: NICE's draft guidance allows the two tests to be used in the NHS for a three-year period, during which further evidence will be gathered on how well they work. A third technology, DotEndo, needs more research before NICE can recommend NHS funding for it.

EndoTest analyses a saliva sample for tiny biological markers called microRNAs, which can indicate whether endometriosis is likely present. EndoSure detects the condition by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen, after the patient fasts for six to eight hours and drinks water during the 45-minute test.

Both tests are intended to be used alongside standard clinical practice, rather than as standalone diagnoses.

What they're saying: Monica Thomas, founder of Ipswich-based charity Women's Health Hope, lived with symptoms of endometriosis for 17 years before she was diagnosed.

"I completely welcome it. It's incredible news," she said. "We could really change the future of those with endometriosis, or suspected endometriosis. For myself, if I'd had this years ago, I feel like it could have prevented so much hardship – emotional pain, self-doubt – that it's caused me throughout the years."

Ms Thomas raised concerns about whether NHS services are ready for the impact of faster diagnosis.

"Of course there are concerns, because we're probably going to see an influx of women being diagnosed, and we know waiting lists are already overwhelmed," she said. "We need to ensure what's being put in place to manage that. Women are still going to require referral for surgery, because this isn't a standalone diagnosis."

She said Suffolk's lack of a dedicated endometriosis specialist made the tests especially significant locally. "In Suffolk, we don't have an endometriosis specialist, so being able to receive that diagnosis is going to be key for women – to validate their feelings and their symptoms. But it needs to come with education and awareness in our local hospitals."

What's next: Ms Thomas said better training for healthcare professionals must accompany the rollout of the new tests. "What I'd like to see over the next year, locally, for the women of Suffolk, is more education and awareness with our doctors – stamping out misinformation, like the idea that pregnancy cures endometriosis, or that heavy periods are normal."

For context: The announcement comes as Women's Health Hope prepares to open Suffolk's first dedicated Women's Health Support Hub in Ipswich, at the Unity Centre and Whitton Centre on Meredith Road, with a community opening planned for Saturday, 1 August 2026.

The hub will not offer clinical services such as scans or specialist appointments, but will provide peer support, education and signposting for women and girls across the county.

NICE is inviting comments on its draft guidance, with the consultation closing on 27 July 2026 and a second committee meeting scheduled for 12 August 2026. The recommendations may change following consultation.

The bottom line: For women who have waited years to be believed, faster and less invasive diagnosis marks a genuine step forward, and one that lands in Ipswich just as local support is continuing to grow around it.

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