'Endometriosis drug on NHS is good news, but women are not being diagnosed'

CHARITY CHIEF WANTS MORE EDUCATION ON CONDITION

- RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

THE Nottinghamshire leader of the UK’s main endometriosis charity has warned that more education is still needed on the condition as a new pill was approved for use on the NHS.

The new drug, known as relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone or Ryeqo, could provide relief for around 1,000 women in England each year who suffer from this debilitating condition.

This only represents a small proportion of the 1.5 million women in the UK who suffer from endometriosis, however. This is because the drug will only be offered on the NHS to patients who haven't found successful medical or surgical solutions for their endometriosis struggles.

It is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, often in the pelvic area, causing pain, inflammation, and sometimes infertility.

The pill can be taken at home, works quickly, combines hormones in one dose and reduces the need for clinic visits.