For millions of people, endometriosis isn’t just a condition; it’s a long, exhausting journey.
Even with symptoms that can be debilitating, it still takes an average of 8–10 years to receive a diagnosis. That’s years of pain, uncertainty, repeat doctor appointments, and all too often being told that symptoms are “normal” or “just part of having a period.”
But the story may finally be starting to change.
New research suggests that menstrual blood, something that is still often stigmatised, could hold powerful clues about endometriosis. And those clues might help doctors detect the condition earlier, more easily, and without surgery.
For the endometriosis community, that’s a really big deal.
Why Has Endometriosis Been So Hard to Diagnose?
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 people with periods, yet diagnosis has traditionally relied on laparoscopic surgery, an invasive procedure that many don’t access until years after symptoms begin.
In the meantime, people are often left navigating:
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Chronic pain without answers
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Endless referrals and waiting lists
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Feeling dismissed or unheard
That diagnostic delay doesn’t just affect physical health. It impacts mental well-being, work, relationships and trust in the healthcare system.
The Breakthrough: Listening to Menstrual Blood
In a recent clinical study, researchers explored something simple but powerful: menstrual blood.
They found that menstrual blood contains menstrual-blood-derived stem cells, which carry DNA patterns that look different in people with endometriosis compared to those without. By analysing these patterns, scientists were able to identify endometriosis cases with around 80% accuracy, all without surgery.
In other words, menstrual blood isn’t waste. It’s information.
And for a condition that’s gone undiagnosed for far too long, that information could be life-changing.
From Lab Research to Rapid Tests
Even more exciting? Researchers aren’t stopping at lab analysis.
Other teams are developing proof-of-concept tests that could detect endometriosis-linked biomarkers from menstrual blood in as little as 10 minutes. Think: a test strip, similar to a pregnancy test.
These tools aren’t commercially available yet and more research and clinical validation are needed. But the direction is clear and incredibly promising.
Why This Matters
If these approaches become widely available, they could transform endometriosis care:
• Fewer years waiting for answers
• Less reliance on invasive surgery
• Earlier access to treatment and support
• More autonomy and validation for patients
For a condition that’s historically been overlooked and under-researched, this represents a long-overdue shift.
Science Is Finally Catching Up
For decades, people with endometriosis have been saying the same thing: something isn’t right. Now, science is finally listening, not just to patients, but to the biological signals their bodies have been sending all along.
From 10 years to 10 minutes might not be the reality just yet, but it’s closer than it’s ever been.
And that’s real progress.
Sources:
Hospital Times. Scientists develop breakthrough in detecting endometriosis in menstrual blood, October 2025. (Link)
Femtech Insider. Endogene.bio study validates menstrual blood approach for endometriosis, October 2025. (Link)
StudyFinds.org. Breakthrough menstrual blood test detects endometriosis in 10 minutes, July 2025. (Link)
