Currently, it takes an average of seven years for women to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition in which tissue similar to that lining the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, most often in the pelvic area. Endometriosis can cause very intense and debilitating menstrual pain, but also chronic pelvic pain outside of menstruation, pain during sexual intercourse, digestive problems such as bloating or constipation, urinary pain, and deep and persistent fatigue.
A new study, conducted by scientists at Flo Health, researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and experts at the York Health Economic Consortium, shows encouraging results. The study found that when tools such as the Endometriosis Symptom Checker (built into the app) are used, they could reduce the time to diagnosis by more than four years, or more than 50% earlier.
Although it affects approximately 190 million women worldwide, endometriosis remains largely under-recognized within healthcare systems. On average, women can spend up to seven years navigating fragmented care pathways with limited understanding of their symptoms, while living with severe menstrual pain and chronic pelvic pain, before receiving a diagnosis. Enabling diagnosis up to four years earlier could significantly mitigate the consequences of late detection and reduce the long-term impact of the disease.
"Endometriosis can profoundly disrupt women's lives, yet many spend years searching for answers in a system that has not always been designed to connect the patterns they observe over time. This study examines how digital tools can help women better recognize their symptoms and bring clearer information to their interactions with healthcare professionals. While these tools do not provide a diagnosis, they promote earlier awareness and more informed decisions, thereby changing the trajectory of their care and their lives," said Dr. Anna Klepchukova, Chief Medical Officer at Flo Health. In addition, by detecting the disease earlier, patients could save themselves approximately $5,000 in long and costly care.
Flo Health, recently awarded by Google Play as the best app for smartwatches, continues to establish itself as the digital benchmark for the health and well-being of tens of millions of women around the world.
