Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting only women, and unfortunately, it can take up to a decade to get a diagnosis. Now, a new study is suggesting ways to make this process faster.
Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark found that women with endometriosis tend to visit their general practitioner, gynecologist, and even the hospital more often than other women, years before they are officially diagnosed.
The study involved analyzing the health care visits of 129,696 Danish women, among whom 21,616 were diagnosed with endometriosis between 2000 and 2017.
“Even 10 years before being diagnosed, women affected by endometriosis are already using healthcare services more frequently,” said Anna Melgaard, the study’s lead author.
Why the Delay?
The long wait for a diagnosis is often due to a mix of factors. Women might not realize their symptoms are out of the ordinary, so they may delay seeking medical help.
On the other hand, doctors might not be well-versed in recognizing endometriosis and may dismiss symptoms as normal.
This can lead to unnecessary tests, or even worse, incorrect referrals to specialists, which drags out the time it takes to get proper treatment.
What This Means for Healthcare
This study isn’t just important for women dealing with the pain and uncertainty of endometriosis. It also serves as a wakeup call for healthcare providers.
If a woman of childbearing age is frequently visiting various healthcare services without a clear diagnosis, it might be time to consider endometriosis as a potential cause.
Anna Melgaard and her team are now digging deeper to find out the specific reasons why women with undiagnosed endometriosis are making these healthcare visits.
The goal is to pinpoint certain patterns that could signal endometriosis. “Understanding these patterns can help women get diagnosed and treated faster, avoiding years of being passed around in the healthcare system,” says Melgaard.
In the end, this research could be a step toward more efficient use of healthcare resources, helping doctors make quicker and more accurate diagnoses.
For the women affected by endometriosis, it means quicker relief from a painful condition and less time feeling “adrift” in the healthcare system.
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The study was published in Human Reproduction.
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