Study: Blood test identifies unique hormonal signature of endometriosis

A blood test can identify a distinctive hormonal profile associated with endometriosis with more than 95% accuracy, according to a new study. Researchers say the findings could significantly improve the diagnosis of a condition that affects an estimated 190 million people worldwide.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It is currently diagnosed using a combination of gynecological examinations, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or laparoscopy—a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine the pelvic and abdominal organs.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diagnosing endometriosis can take up to 12 years, and access to early diagnosis and effective treatment remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries.

"For far too long, people with endometriosis have faced unacceptably long delays in receiving a diagnosis. In the UK, the average wait is now more than nine years," said Emma Cox, Chief Executive of Endometriosis UK. She noted that delayed diagnosis often postpones treatment and allows the disease to progress.

Researchers believe the new findings could help change this situation.

"These results represent a major breakthrough in our understanding of endometriosis," said study co-author Douglas Gibson of the University of Edinburgh.

While the role of estrogen in endometriosis has been extensively studied, much less is known about the involvement of androgens—a group of sex hormones that includes testosterone and plays an important role in reproductive health, bone density, and muscle development. The new study focused on this knowledge gap.

The researchers analyzed blood samples from 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the disease, measuring multiple hormones with particular attention to androgens, including 11-oxygenated androgens, which are produced by the adrenal glands.

The study identified a distinct hormonal fingerprint in women with endometriosis, including elevated levels of 11-ketotestosterone, an androgen involved in muscle growth and sexual development.

Using these hormonal differences, the researchers were able to distinguish women with endometriosis from those without the condition with more than 95% accuracy.

"We hope these findings will lead to earlier diagnosis and support the development of innovative treatments for people living with endometriosis," Gibson said in a press release.

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