For many women, painful periods are something they’re told to “push through”. But when the pain becomes debilitating – affecting work, relationships and everyday life – it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious.
Endometriosis affects around one in seven Australian women, yet many spend years searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis.
Now a simple five-minute quiz could help identify those at risk much earlier, potentially shaving years off the long wait many women face before getting the care they need.
Developed by researchers at the University of Queensland, the six-question tool helps flag girls and young women who may have endometriosis and should be referred for further assessment.
The quiz asks a series of questions about symptoms and family history, including whether you regularly experience pelvic pain, have taken painkillers to manage it, have heavy or painful periods, or have a family history of the condition.
Based on the answers, a Simplified Adolescent Factors for Endometriosis (SAFE) score is generated to identify those who may need further investigation.
Professor Gita Mishra, director of the University of Queensland’s Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research Centre, said the tool could help reduce the time many women experience before diagnosis.
“Long delays in diagnosis can be due to unclear symptoms, lack of awareness, misdiagnosis, and the normalisation of menstrual pain, which can significantly impact quality of life,” she said.
Why early diagnosis matters
Although the quiz could be used by women of any age, researchers say it is particularly aimed at adolescents.
“By detecting endometriosis earlier – ideally in adolescents soon after they begin their periods – we hope the tool will reduce the average six to eight year diagnostic delay so treatment can begin sooner,” Professor Mishra said.
The tool was developed using data from more than 9000 women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, which helped researchers identify key risk factors for the condition.
Their research found many women are not diagnosed until their late twenties, often when they begin trying to conceive.
“Early diagnosis is important because it may change how fertility issues are managed later on,” Professor Mishra said.
Researchers will now evaluate the tool in clinical settings, including general practice clinics and specialist pelvic pain services.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This can cause significant pain and affect fertility.
Common symptoms include severe pelvic pain during or around your period, fatigue, pain during or after sex, lower back or leg pain, and heavy or irregular bleeding.
The condition currently has no cure and affects up to 11 per cent of Australian women of reproductive age – around one million women nationally and an estimated 190 million worldwide.
According to Endometriosis Australia, it takes an average of six and a half years for women to receive a diagnosis.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness of the condition and encourage women experiencing symptoms to seek medical advice.
