NHS to Offer Rapid Endometriosis Tests — Women Say It Could Have 'Given Years Back'

NHS Approves Rapid Endometriosis Tests as Women Share Years of Delayed Diagnoses

Two new rapid, non-invasive tests for endometriosis are set to become available on the NHS in England and Wales — a development being hailed as a landmark moment for the millions of women affected by the condition.

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to those lining the womb begin growing elsewhere in the body, causing chronic pain, heavy periods, and in many cases, fertility complications. Until now, the only reliable method of diagnosis has been a surgical procedure — a costly and invasive process that has left countless women waiting years for answers.

A Diagnosis That Took Decades

For many women, the road to diagnosis has been long, painful, and emotionally exhausting. Charlotte Hutchings, 36, waited 21 years before receiving her endometriosis diagnosis, having first experienced symptoms at just 11 years old. Hutchings, who co-leads the Gloucestershire Endometriosis Support Group, said rapid testing could have made a "massive difference" to her life, potentially sparing her from years of repeated visits to doctors, hospitals, and A&E departments.

"I was just constantly told it's in your head," she recalled.

Her experience is far from unique. A report published by Endometriosis UK in March revealed that the average time to receive an endometriosis diagnosis has now stretched to more than nine years — up from eight years in 2020.

"It's still taking nine years to get a diagnosis, and there's still not an acceptance of how debilitating this illness can be on women and their families," Hutchings said.

'My Whole 20s Were Taken Away From Me'

Iona Hall, 30, who recently relocated to the Scottish Borders from Bristol, spent six years experiencing pain every single day before she was ultimately diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis. Her delayed diagnosis left her facing two surgeries and the urgent need to raise £21,000 to freeze her eggs.

"The difference rapid tests could have made would have meant years of my life back," she said.

Hall described going back and forth to her doctors for years, insisting that nothing was working, before eventually recognising the signs of endometriosis herself. By that point, the condition had already progressed significantly and affected her fertility.

"If I could have just gone to the doctors, described a couple of symptoms, and had a test done, my endometriosis might never have reached Stage 4," she said. "I feel like my whole 20s got taken away from me because I was ill."

Pregnancies Lost, Questions Left Unanswered

Zoe Armstrong, 35, from Bristol, experienced the devastating impact of undiagnosed endometriosis firsthand. She lost two pregnancies — including an ectopic pregnancy that became trapped as a direct result of the condition — before her diagnosis was finally confirmed through emergency surgery.

Armstrong, who now has a daughter, described the news of rapid NHS testing as "absolutely amazing," while acknowledging a sense of grief for those still waiting.

"There is a little bit of sadness because there are so many people out there who haven't been diagnosed yet, who think they have endometriosis and are stuck in this loop," she said. "Hopefully this will cut their waiting times down."

Cautious Optimism From the Scientific Community

Jakia Hussain, 42, from Cheltenham, who co-leads the support group alongside Armstrong, said she was "cautiously optimistic" about the new tests after enduring 18 years of symptoms herself. As a biomedical scientist, she stressed the importance of ensuring that any new diagnostic tools are both accessible and grounded in solid evidence.

"As long as the NHS is making it really accessible to all patients and cutting down diagnosis times, this is a positive step," she said.

In addition to the newly approved rapid tests, emerging research suggests that endometriosis may also be detectable through a blood test — though scientists note that further clinical testing is required before it could be considered a viable public diagnostic option.

Breaking the Taboo: Education From the Ground Up

Beyond improving testing, Hussain argued that raising awareness of endometriosis — particularly among young people — is equally critical.

"We should be going into schools and talking about period diseases, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome," she said. "It would be good to get more awareness and make it less of a taboo subject. Periods are a normal part of life — we should be talking about it."

Hutchings echoed that sentiment, noting that while public conversation around the condition is growing, systemic change is still urgently needed.

"People are talking about it, which is brilliant — that's the first step to changing something," she said. "But we still have a long way to go."