NEED TO KNOW
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Two new tests, EndoSure and Endotest, could drastically reduce the years-long wait for endometriosis diagnosis
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EndoSure uses electrical signals in the gut while Endotest analyzes saliva for biological markers linked to the condition
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Experts say earlier diagnosis could improve treatment and free up surgical slots for others needing care
Women may no longer have to wait several years to get an endometriosis diagnosis.
On Tuesday, July 7, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced a new draft guidance for the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales. The agency has greenlit two tests, EndoSure and Endotest, to meaningfully reduce the time it takes for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is the reproductive condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain. It affects about 1 in 10 women worldwide. However, on average there is a four- to 11-year delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, according to Yale Medicine.
With Endotest, women provide a saliva sample that’s checked in a lab for tiny biological markers called microRNAs, which can indicate whether endometriosis is likely present.
EndoSure detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads on the abdomen. Women are required to fast for six to eight hours beforehand and drink water during the 45-minute test.
These new technologies offer a less invasive and faster approach to receiving a diagnosis, compared to the typical laparoscopic surgery.
Female patient experiencing severe abdominal pain
Credit: Getty
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NICE points out that neither is designed to be standalone diagnostic tests, and they should be used alongside standard clinical practice. The agency said that not every general practitioner will have immediate access to EndoSure and Endotest, and use will be funded and overseen by the NHS.
The two tests have been approved for a three-year period while additional evidence is collected on how well they work.
“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,” Dr. Anastasia Chalkidou, healthtech program director at NICE, said in a statement. “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.”
Dr. Gail Busby, consultant gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, added, “Too many of my patients have spent years being told their pain is normal when it isn’t. These tests are a 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. An earlier diagnosis doesn’t just change one person’s life, it frees up appointments and surgical slots for everyone waiting for care.”
Read the original article on People