Scientists have developed a blood test that can detect up to 90 per cent of cases of endometriosis.
The painful condition, suffered by around 1.5 million women in the UK, is difficult to diagnose, with the average sufferer waiting more than seven years before it is identified.
Often, patients need to go undergo keyhole surgery to identify tissues around the ovaries and fallopian tubes in order to diagnose the condition.
The new test looks for tiny DNA fragments in the blood, providing a diagnosis with in days, meaning women can be offered treatment far sooner.
The test, developed by MDNA Life Sciences and experts at the University of Oxford, will be available privately within nine months at a cost of about £250.
Researchers hope that it will be available on the NHS, at a later stage.
According to the charity Endometriosis UK, it takes an average of 7.5 years to get a diagnosis from the first onset of symptoms.
Experts now hope to speed up this process through a new blood test, with laboratory results available within a few days.
The Mitomic Endometriosis Test, which was developed at MDNA’s Newcastle lab, looks for biomarkers of endometriosis in the blood through the close examination of mutations in mitochondrial DNA.
A study published in the journal Biomarkers in Medicine found that these newly-identified biomarkers can accurately detect endometriosis in blood samples in up to nine out of 10 cases, even in the early stages of the condition.
Dr Christian Becker, from the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford, said: “Endometriosis not only causes enormous suffering to the affected women, but also brings a tremendous medical and economic burden to bear on society.
“There is a long lag phase between the onset and diagnosis of the disease, mainly due to its non-specific symptoms and because it can only be diagnosed invasively by laparoscopy.
“A specific, non-invasive test to aid diagnosis of endometriosis is certainly an unmet clinical need.”
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
It is the second most common gynaecological condition after fibroids and can affect fertility.
Treatment can include the contraceptive pill and different types of surgery, including a full hysterectomy.
American actress and writer Lena Dunham has spoken about her battle with the condition, which led to repeated surgery, and a hysterectomy last year at the age of 31.
Until now, the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis has been via laparoscopy – a type of keyhole surgery where a camera is inserted into the pelvis to look at internal organs.
Harry Smart, MDNA Life Sciences’ chairman said: “Our groundbreaking test for endometriosis will fundamentally change the way this debilitating disease is detected and diagnosed.
“We look forward to helping UK women get treatment sooner, reducing their pain and distress and providing cost savings to health services.”
Dr Andrew Harbottle, MDNA Life Sciences’ chief science officer, said: “Mutations in mitochondrial DNA act as ideal biomarkers, providing us with a unique and detailed diary of damage to the DNA and accurately detecting many difficult-to-diagnose diseases and conditions, such as endometriosis.”