New Endometriosis Tests Could Help Speed Up Diagnosis: What Women Need to Know

New Endometriosis Tests Could Help Speed Up Diagnosis: What Women Need to Know

11th September 2026

New non-invasive endometriosis tests could cut the nine-year wait for a diagnosis, but awareness must catch up too, says London women’s health GP.

Dr Komal Chadha, GP and founder of Bond Medical in Marylebone, welcomes NICE’s backing of saliva and sensor-based endometriosis tests, and sets out five signs and symptoms women shouldn’t ignore.

Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that two non-invasive tests can be used in NHS primary care to help diagnose endometriosis, a condition affecting around one in ten women of reproductive age in the UK, yet one that still takes an average of more than nine years to diagnose.

The two technologies, Endotest and EndoSure, have been recommended for use over a three-year period while further evidence is gathered on how well they perform. Endotest analyses a saliva sample for microRNAs that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely to be present, while EndoSure uses abdominal sensors to measure the electrical activity of the gut, which can be altered by endometriosis in the pelvis. The tests are intended to support assessment of women with suspected endometriosis rather than replace existing clinical assessment.

“For many women, the biggest issue isn’t simply getting a diagnosis; it’s spending years feeling that their symptoms aren’t being taken seriously. Non-invasive tests like these have real potential to shorten that journey, but they’re only one part of the solution. We also need greater awareness, among clinicians and patients, so that painful periods, pain during sex and chronic pelvic pain are recognised as symptoms that deserve proper investigation.”

Dr Komal Chadha, GP with a special interest in women’s health and founder of Bond Medical

The scale of the delay is significant. In a survey of more than 10,000 women by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on endometriosis, well over half reported visiting their GP more than ten times before being diagnosed, and waits are reported to be longer still for women from ethnically diverse communities.

Five signs and symptoms women shouldn’t ignore:

• Period pain severe enough to stop you from working, studying or going about your day is not normal.
• Pain during sex should always be assessed.
• Cyclical bowel or bladder symptoms that come and go with your period can point to endometriosis.
• Difficulty conceiving can sometimes be the first sign.
• Don’t accept repeated dismissal if your symptoms persist.

“A nine-year wait for a diagnosis is simply too long. Earlier recognition changes lives; it means symptoms can be managed sooner and referrals made at the right time. My hope is that tests like these, alongside better awareness, finally start to close that gap.” Dr Komal Chadha

Dr Chadha, who runs an NHS women’s health clinic alongside her private practice, has confirmed that Bond Medical hopes to offer the new tests once they become available. In the meantime, Bond Medical offers comprehensive women’s health assessments for patients experiencing symptoms suggestive of endometriosis, with a focus on recognising the condition early, coordinating appropriate investigations, managing symptoms where appropriate, and facilitating timely referral to specialist gynaecology services.