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Rachel V Thomas

NHS To Roll Out Two 'Gamechanger' Tests for Faster Endometriosis Diagnosis: Know How They Work

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/endometriosis">Endometriosis</a>, a painful condition that affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, takes an average of more than nine years to diagnose. That could soon change.

Based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) draft guidance, the NHS will roll out two non-invasive tests — the saliva-based Endotest and the gut sensor-based EndoSure — to help speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis in England and Wales.

NICE's draft early use healthtech guidance recommends the use of EndoSure and Endotest in the NHS during a three-year evidence generation period while additional data is collected on how well they work.

“The tests can be used to diagnose endometriosis in primary care, where current diagnostic accuracy can be limited by the availability of other tests and variation in expertise,” NICE said.

“A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade, with the UK average standing at 9 years and 4 months, and rising to 11 years for those from ethnically diverse communities. That delay means living with chronic pelvic pain that affects daily life, relationships and work," said Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech Programme Director at NICE.

“The new technologies offer a less invasive, faster approach to receiving a diagnosis that does not rely on ultrasound operator expertise, potentially enabling earlier decision-making and reducing the need for unnecessary invasive investigations,” Chalkidou added.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/emma-barnett-it-took-21-years-to-diagnose-my-endometriosis-article-154447392" data-type="tilCustomLink">Emma Barnett: It Took 21 Years To Diagnose My Endometriosis</a>

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe pelvic pain and make it difficult to conceive.

The condition can begin with a person's first menstrual period and last until menopause. It most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and intestines, with pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities among the most common symptoms.

Diagnosis currently relies on ultrasound scans, MRI or laparoscopy, in which a camera is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. Yet despite these diagnostic tools, women in England and Wales often wait as long as a decade for a diagnosis.

Those eventually diagnosed with endometriosis have reported that delays contribute to increased suffering, prolonged ill health and disease progression that can become more difficult to treat.

<h2>How Do EndoSure And Endotest Work?</h2>

READ: <a href="http://healthandme.com/health-wellness/this-is-endometriosis-a-short-film-on-debilitating-health-condition-wins-bafta-award-2026-know-more-article-153757181" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">This Is Endometriosis, A Short Film On Debilitating Health Condition Wins BAFTA Award 2026, Know More</a>

Endotest analyses a saliva sample to identify tiny biological markers called microRNAs that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely to be present. The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis, and the results are returned to the treating healthcare professional to help guide diagnosis and care.

EndoSure is a non-invasive test that detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads placed on the abdomen. Patients fast for six to eight hours before the test and drink water until full during the 45-minute procedure to help the device accurately record gut activity. Results are available immediately after the test.

“These technologies have the potential to change that by giving primary care professionals better non-invasive tools to identify endometriosis earlier, allowing earlier and better treatment,” Chalkidou said.

“Our draft guidance reflects our commitment to getting promising innovations to patients quickly, while making sure the evidence to support their wider use is built in a rigorous way.”

Both tests are intended to be used alongside standard clinical practice to support diagnosis, referral and management. They are not standalone diagnostic tests.

They should only be used in women in whom endometriosis is still suspected despite a normal clinical examination and either negative or inconclusive imaging results, or where imaging is unsuitable or unacceptable. The tests must be used by a healthcare professional.

Early economic modelling suggests both technologies could be cost-effective. During the evidence generation period, they will be funded through core NHS funding. The companies are responsible for organizing the evidence generation activities, and NICE will review progress annually.

A third test, DotEndo, needed more research before it could get the green light, Nice said.

Endometriosis UK welcomed NICE's announcement, calling it "a major step forward in reducing disease impact and supporting those with endometriosis to live well with the disease."

The charity also said the rollout should be accompanied by better education for GPs and Practice Nurses to ensure prompt access to testing, earlier recognition of symptoms, and improved understanding of endometriosis, adenomyosis and other menstrual health conditions.

Dr Gail Busby, consultant gynecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, called the tests "game-changer because they give us answers much earlier, without the need for invasive surgery, and that means we can start the right treatment sooner".

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Endometriosis, a painful condition that affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, takes an average of more than nine years to diagnose. That could soon change.Based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) draft guidance, the NHS will roll out two non-invasive tests — the saliva-based Endotest and the gut sensor-based EndoSure — to help speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis in England and Wales.NICE's draft early use healthtech guidance recommends the use of EndoSure and Endotest in the NHS during a three-year evidence generation period while additional data is collected on how well they work.“The tests can be used to diagnose endometriosis in primary care, where current diagnostic accuracy can be limited by the availability of other tests and variation in expertise,” NICE said.“A diagnosis of endometriosis can for some women take the best part of a decade, with the UK average standing at 9 years and 4 months, and rising to 11 years for those from ethnically diverse communities. That delay means living with chronic pelvic pain that affects daily life, relationships and work," said Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, HealthTech Programme Director at NICE.“The new technologies offer a less invasive, faster approach to receiving a diagnosis that does not rely on ultrasound operator expertise, potentially enabling earlier decision-making and reducing the need for unnecessary invasive investigations,” Chalkidou added.Also read: Emma Barnett: It Took 21 Years To Diagnose My EndometriosisWhat Is Endometriosis?According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe pelvic pain and make it difficult to conceive.The condition can begin with a person's first menstrual period and last until menopause. It most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and intestines, with pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities among the most common symptoms.Diagnosis currently relies on ultrasound scans, MRI or laparoscopy, in which a camera is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. Yet despite these diagnostic tools, women in England and Wales often wait as long as a decade for a diagnosis.Those eventually diagnosed with endometriosis have reported that delays contribute to increased suffering, prolonged ill health and disease progression that can become more difficult to treat.How Do EndoSure And Endotest Work?READ: This Is Endometriosis, A Short Film On Debilitating Health Condition Wins BAFTA Award 2026, Know MoreEndotest analyses a saliva sample to identify tiny biological markers called microRNAs that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely to be present. The sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis, and the results are returned to the treating healthcare professional to help guide diagnosis and care.EndoSure is a non-invasive test that detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads placed on the abdomen. Patients fast for six to eight hours before the test and drink water until full during the 45-minute procedure to help the device accurately record gut activity. Results are available immediately after the test.“These technologies have the potential to change that by giving primary care professionals better non-invasive tools to identify endometriosis earlier, allowing earlier and better treatment,” Chalkidou said.“Our draft guidance reflects our commitment to getting promising innovations to patients quickly, while making sure the evidence to support their wider use is built in a rigorous way.”Who Can Use the Tests?Both tests are intended to be used alongside standard clinical practice to support diagnosis, referral and management. They are not standalone diagnostic tests.They should only be used in women in whom endometriosis is still suspected despite a normal clinical examination and either negative or inconclusive imaging results, or where imaging is unsuitable or unacceptable. The tests must be used by a healthcare professional.Early economic modelling suggests both technologies could be cost-effective. During the evidence generation period, they will be funded through core NHS funding. The companies are responsible for organizing the evidence generation activities, and NICE will review progress annually.A third test, DotEndo, needed more research before it could get the green light, Nice said.Experts Welcome The MoveEndometriosis UK welcomed NICE's announcement, calling it "a major step forward in reducing disease impact and supporting those with endometriosis to live well with the disease."The charity also said the rollout should be accompanied by better education for GPs and Practice Nurses to ensure prompt access to testing, earlier recognition of symptoms, and improved understanding of endometriosis, adenomyosis and other menstrual health conditions.Dr Gail Busby, consultant gynecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, called the tests "game-changer because they give us answers much earlier, without the need for invasive surgery, and that means we can start the right treatment sooner".

nhs to roll out two 'gamechanger' tests for faster endometriosis diagnosis: know how they work

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