TWO new non-invasive technologies could help speed up years-long waits for endometriosis diagnoses in primary care in the UK.
Endosure and Endotest are being recommended under new draft early use healthtech guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Nine-Year Delay to Diagnosis
Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, NICE has reported.
Yet, the average time to diagnosis is more than nine years.
New Technologies
The two new technologies can be used in the NHS during a three-year period while more evidence is collected on their efficacy.
Endotest analyses a saliva sample for microRNAs, which can indicate the likelihood of endometriosis presence, with results sent to the treating clinician.
The second new technology, Endosure, detects the condition by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen.
The test is 45 minutes and administered with the patient fasting for six to eight hours beforehand and drinking water until full during the test.
A third technology, DotEndo, requires further research before NICE recommendation for early NHS use.
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on endometriosis conducted a survey of more than 10,000 women.
More than half reported visiting their GP more than 10 times before receiving a diagnosis.
Further, more than half of respondents reported attending an emergency department due to their symptoms.
Currently, diagnostic laparoscopy is the only way to definitively confirm an endometriosis diagnosis.
However, NICE highlighted, is it invasive, costly, and carries surgical risks.
The watchdog reported that the new tests offer a less invasive, faster approach to receiving an endometriosis diagnosis.
This could enable earlier clinical decision-making and cut down the need for unnecessary invasive investigations, such as diagnostic laparoscopy.
Reference
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. New technologies could help cut years-long wait for endometriosis diagnosis. 2026. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/new-technologies-for-endometriosis-diagnosis-in-primary-care. Last accessed: 8 July 2026.
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