New testing methods could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition where cells resembling those in the uterine lining grow in other parts of the body.

It impacts approximately 10% of women, with up to 50% of infertile women affected, significantly affecting their quality of life. However, diagnosing the condition remains challenging. The current average diagnosis time is Almost 9 years, and this duration is increasing.

One of the main reasons for this difficulty is the overlap of endometriosis symptoms with other conditions such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cancer, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The gold standard diagnostic test currently is diagnostic laparoscopy. This procedure, done under general anesthesia, involves inserting a small camera into the patient’s pelvis and abdomen to identify endometrial lesions or cysts.

However, diagnostic laparoscopy is invasive, painful, expensive, and not always 100% accurate. It can lead to unnecessary treatment and delay in receiving the correct care.

To address these challenges, researchers are actively working on developing more effective diagnostic tests for endometriosis. One such test is Ziwig Endotest, a saliva-based test that uses artificial intelligence to analyze 109 microRNAs. This test reportedly detects endometriosis early with high sensitivity.

Another promising test is the Promarkerendo blood test from Australia, which looks for 10 proteins associated with endometriosis. It has shown high accuracy in diagnosing the condition, especially in its severe form.

Tests like these, along with developments such as the Metridx test and imaging techniques using ultrasound and MRI, are revolutionizing endometriosis diagnosis and potentially reducing diagnostic delays, thereby improving the quality of life for women worldwide.