Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating condition that affects around 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth in the UK.
Despite how common endometriosis is it remains one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood health issues, with many sufferers enduring years of pain and uncertainty before receiving proper care.
How Many Women Are Affected?
We believe that over 1.5 million people in the UK live with endometriosis – it is a silent epidemic.
The condition involves tissue similar to the lining of the womb growing in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even the bowel or bladder. This tissue responds to hormonal changes, leading to inflammation, scarring, and severe pain.
Common Endometriosis Symptoms
Endometriosis symptoms vary widely but often include:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Painful periods
- Pain during or after sex
- Fatigue or a constant sensation of being tired
- Bowel and bladder issues
- Infertility
As you can imagine, these symptoms often have a profound effect on all aspects of the patient’s life. Not to mention their families.
NHS Wait Times and the Fight to Be Heard
One of the most concerning issues is the average wait time for diagnosis—which currently can be up to almost nine years in the UK.
Many women report visiting their GP 10 or more times before being taken seriously. Over 750,000 women are currently on waiting lists for gynaecological services with delays worsening since the pandemic.
Patients frequently describe being dismissed, gaslit, or told their pain is psychological, especially by non-specialist providers. This not only delays diagnosis but can lead to worsening symptoms and long-term health consequences – we have to accept this as a medical profession before we can move forward.
A Breakthrough in Diagnosis: The Endosure Test
Traditionally, diagnosing endometriosis has required invasive procedures like laparoscopy. But now, the Endosure test offers a non-invasive, fast, and accurate alternative.
Endosure works by detecting unique myoelectrical signals from the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract using external electrode pads—similar to an ECG. The test takes just 30 minutes, is painless, and delivers instant results with up to 99% accuracy.
This innovation is especially valuable for:
- Those facing long NHS wait times
- Patients seeking a non-surgical option to be given their diagnosis
- Individuals with complex or overlapping symptoms
At Stonegate we run our Endosure clinics with the Consultant Gynaecologist Mr James Tibbott as we feel it is key to be guided on this journey by an expert. Not only is he the Lead Clinician for Gynaecology for Leeds Hospital Trust, he is also developing into one of the national experts in complex pelvic pain in women.
We also have 3 GP’s (Dr Blackwell, Dr Skeet and Dr Caine) with specialist interests in women’s health so that between Mr Tibbott and our team, if you are diagnosed, we can move straight to discussing treatment with no delays.
Final Thoughts
Endometriosis is not just a women’s health issue—it’s a public health crisis. With millions affected, years-long wait times, and widespread dismissal of symptoms, the need for change is urgent.
Tools like Endosure offer hope, but systemic reform is essential to ensure every person with endometriosis is heard, believed, and treated with dignity and at Stonegate Medical Clinic we are ready to do just that!