New Guidelines For Endometriosis Diagnosis Could Be A Game Changer

Scientists have published a new set of guidelines to aid the diagnosis and management of endometriosis.

It currently takes an average of eight years from the onset of symptoms to be diagnosed with the debilitating illness, with an estimated one in 10 women suffering with the disease.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Now, new guidelines set by scientists from University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) should lead to improved support and treatment for the millions of women who are suffering with endometriosis.

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Speaking about the guidelines - published by The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) -

Professor Ertan Saridogan said: “Having new clinical guidelines means better support and treatment for the millions of women who suffer from endometriosis and do not get the attention they deserve. This new work expands on important issues such as the clinical evidence on endometriosis in adolescents and postmenopausal women.

“It also outlines the diagnostic process, challenges the current laparoscopy and histology used as the overall gold standard diagnostic tests, and it evaluates surgical, medical and non-pharmacological treatments."

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Included in the overhauled guidelines are over 100 recommendations on diagnosis - including further diagnostic tests in women with suspected endometriosis, even if a clinical examination is considered normal - as well as treatment for pain and for fertility issues. For example, the guidelines suggest considering operative laparoscopy for the treatment of endometrioma-associated infertility.

The document also offers recommendations on asymptomatic or extrapelvic disease and endometriosis in adolescents. They state that clinicians should take a careful history and "consider the following symptoms as suggestive of the presence of endometriosis: chronic or acyclical pelvic pain, particularly combined with nausea, dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, dysuria and dyspareunia, and cyclical pelvic pain".

Recommendations have also been updated in treatment of postmenopausal women as well as prevention, and the association with cancer.

“Endometriosis is a very common, but still highly underrepresented disease with often devastating outcomes for the patients and their families. Together with my colleagues we hope that the new ESHRE Endometriosis Guideline will assist both patients and healthcare professionals in their decision making and understanding of the condition," said Professor Christian Becker.

Meanwhile, endometriosis advocate in Ireland, Kathleen King, said the document will "become an essential part of the toolkit for those living with endometriosis".

She added: "Patients can feel confident in using the guidelines to open discussions with their healthcare professionals and in turn their healthcare team have a guide based on current best practice and scientific information. I encourage all those with an interest in endometriosis to make full use of the guidelines."

This certainly sounds like a step in the right direction.

For help, support and advice on endometriosis, please visit Endometriosis UK.