NHS GP & Women’s Health Specialist

Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, FRCGP — NHS GP & Women’s Health Doctor

You’ve been bleeding through pads, cancelling plans, and doubling over in pain — and your doctor told you it’s “just bad periods.”

I believe you. (And the data backs you up).

In the UK, women wait an average of 8 to 9 years for an endometriosis diagnosis. That delay is not your fault. It is a systemic failure — and women – like you – deserve better.

Watch First: Endometriosis vs PCOS — 5 Signs Your Menstrual Pain Isn’t “Just Period Pain”

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb (endometrium) grows outside the uterus — on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder, or even the diaphragm.

Every month, this tissue responds to your hormones exactly like the womb lining does: it bleeds. But unlike a normal period, that blood has nowhere to go. The result is inflammation, scar tissue (adhesions), cysts, and — for most women — significant, life-disrupting pain.

It affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK — around 1.5 million people. That’s more than the number of people living with diabetes.

It Is Not “Just Period Pain”

Period pain that keeps you in bed, makes you vomit, stops you working, or doesn’t respond to over-the-counter painkillers is not normal. It is a symptom. If you have been told otherwise, I want you to take that sentence back to your next appointment and say it out loud.

Why Does It Take So Long to Diagnose?

According to Endometriosis UK, the average time to diagnosis in the UK is now 9 years and 4 months — and the wait is even longer for women from ethnically diverse backgrounds, where it can stretch to 11 years. Here is why that happens.

1. Normalising Symptoms

Women are conditioned to believe that painful periods are “part of being a woman.” GPs — often under immense time pressure — may not immediately investigate further. The conversation ends before it begins.

2. Symptoms Overlap With Other Conditions

Endometriosis symptoms look a lot like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), fibroids, and even anxiety. This leads to years of chasing the wrong diagnosis.

3. No Simple Blood Test Exists

We can’t confirm endometriosis with a blood test or a standard ultrasound. The only definitive diagnosis is a laparoscopy — a surgical procedure. That high bar could make GPs and gynaecologists reluctant to refer – until symptoms are severe.

4. Failing to Believe Women

Research consistently shows that women’s pain is taken less seriously. Women with endometriosis report experiencing dismissal, accusations of exaggerating their symptoms, or prescribed antidepressants instead of having investigations.

5. Gaps in GP Training

Not all GPs receive comprehensive training on endometriosis. That is changing — but not fast enough for the 1.5 million women waiting.

What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?

These do not all need to be present at once. Even one or two — if they are affecting your quality of life — warrant investigation.

A Note on “Chocolate Cysts”

An endometrioma is a type of ovarian cyst filled with old blood that has turned dark brown — hence the nickname. These are caused by endometrial (womb) tissue growing on the ovaries. They can be seen on ultrasound, which is why a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound is one of the first investigations your GP should arrange.

How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

The diagnostic pathway on the NHS typically follows these steps:

1. GP consultation — documenting your symptom history, cycle pattern, and impact on daily life
2. Pelvic examination — checking for tenderness, nodules, or a fixed, retroverted uterus
3. Transvaginal ultrasound — can detect endometriomas but cannot rule out endometriosis
4. MRI — better for mapping deep infiltrating endometriosis
5. Laparoscopy — the definitive diagnostic procedure; tissue can also be removed at the same time

You do not need to have had all of these to be taken seriously. If your symptoms match, ask specifically to be investigated for endometriosis — by name.

Watch Next: Endometriosis Ruining Your Fertility? Here’s What’s Actually Happening

What Treatments Are Available on the NHS?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms, slow progression, and preserve fertility where desired.

Red Flags — When to Seek Help

The Bottom Line

Endometriosis is real, common, and frequently missed — but you do not have to keep suffering in silence.

The 8-year delay is a systemic failure, not a personal one. Go to your GP armed with the language from this post and ask specifically to be investigated for endometriosis. You deserve to have your pain taken seriously, your symptoms investigated properly, and a treatment plan that puts your quality of life first. Push for that appointment. You have every right to.

Does any of this sound like your story? You are not alone in this — and this community gets it. → Join the free AskAwayHealth community

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