Digital tools could cut endometriosis diagnosis delays

Digital symptom checkers could reduce endometriosis diagnosis delays by more than four years and save over US$5,000 per patient, according to a modelling study.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pelvic pain and other symptoms.

In the US it takes about seven years on average to diagnose.

Researchers used a Markov decision process model, a mathematical method used to estimate outcomes across different scenarios over time, to compare a digital symptom checker with standard care over 40 years.

The analysis suggested that using the tool alongside usual care could reduce diagnostic delay by about 4.36 years, shifting the average time to diagnosis from roughly seven years to around three years.

The research was carried out by scientists from Flo Health, which funded the study, working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and York Health Economic Consortium.

Anna Klepchukova, chief medical officer at Flo Health, said: “Endometriosis can deeply disrupt women’s lives, yet many spend years searching for answers within a system that hasn’t always been designed to connect the patterns they experience over time.

“This research explores how digital tools may help women better recognise their symptoms and bring clearer insights into conversations with their health care providers.

“While these tools aren’t diagnostic, they support earlier awareness and more informed decisions, ultimately changing the trajectory of their care and their lives.”

Economic modelling estimated savings of US$5,196.22 per person over the 40-year period, mainly from reduced medical costs and lower productivity losses.

From a clinical perspective, the model estimated a gain of 0.049 quality-adjusted life years per person. Quality-adjusted life years, or QALYs, are a measure used in health economics to assess both the length and quality of life produced by a healthcare intervention.

These clinical improvements were described as modest, equating to nearly three additional weeks of healthy life per patient, while the economic impact was more substantial.

Researchers said the greatest benefit would occur when the symptom checker maintains sensitivity and specificity of at least 0.7, user compliance exceeds 45 per cent, and the evaluation period is at least 10 years.

The tools are intended as educational resources rather than diagnostic devices and are designed to prompt earlier referral for clinical assessment.

The study authors said the modelling approach could provide a framework for assessing digital health tools beyond simple accuracy measures and may help guide future research into other under-recognised women’s health conditions.