Set to be rolled out, questions remain as to whether it will be a viable replacement for the invasive surgery.
Endometriosis affects an estimated 190 million reproductive-age women worldwide, with at least one in seven being from Australia.
Symptoms of endometriosis include painful and heavy periods, painful intercourse and infertility, with many others to note.
Despite this, diagnosis of the disease can take an average of 6.5 years, leaving women struggling with the symptoms.
Yet, multiple studies suggest a blood test for diagnosis is on the horizon, with the aim of diagnosing women with the disease quicker and earlier, before resulting in treatment.
Do these developments come too late?
Talisha was diagnosed a year after initial consultations and spent months unsure of what her symptoms meant.
“It took me quite a while before I actually knew that there was more of an issue with me because I’d always had issues with my periods and stuff growing up.”
She recalls visiting the doctors constantly, only to be prescribed painkillers and her symptoms “dumb[ed] down to period cramps”
Her attempts at answers often left her feeling dismissed.
“I ended up going to the doctor, and she told me that I should do some of my own research, surprisingly.”
“It definitely makes you feel a bit like, not heard when your doctor’s telling you to do your own research.”
Despite her own experiences, Talisha believes the development of a blood test could still make a meaningful difference for other women, saying it’s not too late.
“There would still be like hundreds of thousands of women out there waiting for a diagnosis, so it could still help them.”
Qendo care nurse Gillian Gordon says a reliable blood test could ease the burden on both patients and healthcare systems.
“If there was a blood test or if there was a means to say that we don’t need to go into surgery, then absolutely, I think it would have benefits on all parts of society.”
Education first, surgery second
Gordon suggests that in an ideal world, surgery would only be used for treatment, but increased education is needed first.
For this reason, Gordon believes that surgery will continue to have a place in endometriosis treatments when done properly.
“I’ll reiterate it till the cows come home. Surgery is brilliant; it is life-changing for people, but it’s life-changing for people if it’s done by the right individual for the right reasons and the right purpose.”
She argues that the biggest barrier to early diagnosis is the widespread normalisation of debilitating menstrual symptoms.
“It is not typical, and it is not acceptable for days off of work, days off of school, missing social engagements because of pain from a heavy period, pain from ovulation, pain from overactive pelvic floor muscles.”
“It’s not normal. Heavy bleeding where you are bleeding through your sanitary products, you are bleeding through your clothes, feeling faint and nauseous and passing out from heavy bleeding pain, that should not be normalised ever,” says Gordon.
While the new development for endometriosis treatments is a step in the right direction, continued research and education are still needed.
Charlotte Goodwin
Hi! My name is Charlotte and I am a third year Global Comms and Media student from the University of Portsmouth in the UK! I am on a year exchange here at ECU as part of my dual degree, and major in journalism.
