Endometriosis can elude diagnosis for years. What to know about the disease and new ways to find it
Summary
Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside the uterus. Many people wait 10 years or more to get a diagnosis because symptoms can be mistaken or ignored. New tests used in some countries could help diagnose it faster but are not yet available in the U.S.Key Facts
- Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women worldwide.
- Symptoms include severe pain, bloating, fatigue, heavy periods, and infertility.
- The cause of endometriosis is unknown, but genetics may play a role.
- Diagnosis often takes a long time, sometimes over 10 years after symptoms start.
- Pain can be so bad it stops people from going to school or work.
- Symptoms can be confused with other conditions, making diagnosis harder.
- New testing methods have been introduced in some countries but are not yet available in the U.S.
- Patients and some doctors sometimes accept severe period pain as normal, delaying diagnosis.
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