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Endometriosis diagnosis now takes 9 years on average, new report warns

Endometriosis diagnosis now takes 9 years on average, new report warns

The average wait for an endometriosis diagnosis has risen to 9 years and 4 months in the UK.

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Published: March 3, 2026 at 9:42 AM

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For many women, painful periods are brushed off as ‘just part of life’. But new figures show just how long some are waiting for answers.

A major new report from Endometriosis UK reveals that the average time to receive a diagnosis in the UK has now reached 9 years and 4 months, up from 8 years in 2020. For ethnically diverse communities, the average wait rises to 11 years.

Around 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth are affected by endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body. Yet despite how common it is, thousands are still facing years of pain before getting the right support.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a long term condition that can begin from puberty and last until menopause.

It happens when cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body, often around the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvis. In some cases, it can affect the bladder and bowel, and more rarely areas outside the pelvis.

Symptoms can include:

Severe period pain that stops you doing normal activities
Heavy periods that soak through pads or tampons
Pelvic pain outside of your period
Pain during or after sex
Pain when going to the toilet
Extreme tiredness
Difficulty getting pregnant

There is currently no cure, but treatments including pain relief, hormonal medication and surgery can help manage symptoms.

Diagnosis times are getting worse

According to The State of Endometriosis Care in the UK report by Endometriosis UK , diagnosis times have continued to rise despite increased awareness.

The survey of more than 3,000 people diagnosed since 2015 found:

The UK average diagnosis time is now 9 years and 4 months
Diagnosis takes 11 years on average for ethnically diverse communities
83% were told they were “making a fuss about nothing” or had similar symptoms dismissed
55% attended A&E with symptoms before diagnosis
46% of those who went to A&E were sent home without treatment

Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, said: “It is unacceptable that those living with endometriosis have to endure years of pain and uncertainty before receiving a diagnosis. Our findings underscore the urgent need not only for increased awareness and understanding of endometriosis and menstrual health among healthcare providers, but for this to be translated into action, with appropriate levels of resources allocated by the NHS to overcome far too long waiting lists and enable access to care where and when it’s needed.

Endometriosis care has been neglected for too long and the situation is getting worse. Governments across the UK must treat endometriosis as a common, chronic condition that requires systematic action and we want an unequivocal commitment to reduce average diagnosis time to one year or less by 2030.

Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK

‘I was surviving not living’

For many women, the delay has life changing consequences.

Kat Layton, who first experienced symptoms as a teenager, was eventually diagnosed with Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis after years of being prescribed the pill and painkillers.

“There were days where I couldn’t even get dressed due to the amount of pain I was in, hot baths at 3am just to get some relief for half an hour, taking prescription strength codeine daily just to get through each day and even some A&E visits - I was surviving not living.”

She was initially told an internal mass was a rare cancer before further tests confirmed it was endometriosis.

“It took about six years for me to get a diagnosis and it has had a huge impact on my education, my mental health and my life.”

Kat later underwent surgery and IVF, and says managing the condition remains an ongoing challenge.

Why does it take so long?

Symptoms of endometriosis can overlap with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease. Many women are first prescribed hormonal contraception to manage symptoms without further investigation.

The report found that 80% were prescribed hormonal contraception before any investigations, and more than half received no discussion about possible underlying causes.

Long waits for gynaecology appointments are also contributing to delays, with almost three quarters of a million women currently waiting for gynaecology care across the UK.

When should you see a GP?

If you think you might have endometriosis, it is important to speak to your GP, especially if:

Your period pain stops you from carrying out normal activities
You have heavy bleeding that affects daily life
You have ongoing pelvic pain
Your symptoms are affecting your work, relationships or mental health
Treatment you have tried is not helping

It can take persistence to be heard. Many women find it helpful to keep a symptom diary and bring clear examples of how pain or bleeding affects everyday life.

What needs to change?

Endometriosis UK is calling for average diagnosis times to be reduced to one year or less by 2030. The charity says this will require:

Better menstrual health education for healthcare professionals
Reduced gynaecology waiting lists
Improved access to specialist services and imaging
Greater awareness of endometriosis symptoms

For the 1.5 million women in the UK living with endometriosis, faster diagnosis could mean earlier treatment, better fertility planning and years less spent questioning whether their pain is “normal”.

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