A new blood test could identify a distinctive hormone pattern found only in people with endometriosis, offering hope for faster diagnosis of a condition that currently takes up to 12 years to detect.
A blood test could identify a pattern of hormones only found in people with endometriosis with over 95% accuracy, according to a new study. This could revolutionise how the condition — which affects 190 million people worldwide — is diagnosed.
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Currently, endometriosis — a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it — is usually diagnosed through a pelvic exam, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery in which surgeons examine the abdominal and pelvic organs through tiny incisions.
It takes up to 12 years to diagnose endometriosis, with early diagnosis and effective treatment limited in many low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization.
“For too long, those with endometriosis have faced unacceptably long waits for diagnosis, and it currently takes an average of over 9 years to get a diagnosis in the United Kingdom,” said Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, adding that this delays access to treatment and risks the progression of the disease.
The new research could be a game-changer.
“These findings mark a significant breakthrough in our understanding of endometriosis,” said Douglas Gibson, co-author of the study at the University of Edinburgh.
While oestrogens are known to affect endometriosis, the role of other hormones, such as androgens — a group of sex hormones such as testosterone vital for reproductive health, bone density, and muscle mass — is not as well understood, the authors said. This research focused on this gap.
The research team analysed hormone levels in the blood of 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the condition. Their analysis focused on androgens, including 11-oxygenated androgens — a group of hormones produced by the adrenal glands above the kidneys.
They found that women with endometriosis have a distinct hormonal fingerprint, including high levels of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone, which helps build muscle and the growth of sex organs.
Based on this hormonal distinction, the researchers could identify which patients had endometriosis and which ones did not with more than 95% accuracy.
“We are optimistic that this new insight will lead to earlier diagnosis and the development of innovative new treatments for those affected by endometriosis,” Gibson said in a press release.
