"Bad periods are normal. Take paracetamol.", what you've probably been told
Endometriosis
NHS guideline NG73 sets out a clear pathway for assessment, investigation and referral of suspected endometriosis. It is explicit that diagnosis should not depend on transvaginal ultrasound being normal.
The wait: Average UK diagnostic delay is 9 years (Endometriosis UK, 2024).
What GPs miss
The average diagnostic delay in the UK is around 8 years 10 months (Endometriosis UK, 2024). NG73 is clear: persistent pelvic pain, period-related pain affecting daily activities, and certain associated symptoms warrant investigation and gynaecology referral, not repeated reassurance.
The letter asks for
- An NG73-aligned assessment for endometriosis
- Pelvic ultrasound (with caveat that a normal scan does not exclude the diagnosis)
- Referral to a gynaecology service or specialist endometriosis centre
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Frequently asked questions
My ultrasound was normal, does that rule out endometriosis?
No. NG73 explicitly states a normal ultrasound does not exclude endometriosis. The letter cites this directly.
What you hear vs. what NG73 says
What's usually said in the room
"Bad periods are normal. Take paracetamol."
What the guideline actually says
The average diagnostic delay in the UK is around 8 years 10 months (Endometriosis UK, 2024). NG73 is clear: persistent pelvic pain, period-related pain affecting daily activities, and certain associated symptoms warrant investigation and gynaecology referral, not repeated reassurance.
Benefits and rights for Endometriosis
Outcomes from people with Endometriosis
One short email each Sunday, anonymised stories from people who got their GP to take them seriously.