Armstrong’s experience is not unusual. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists says people can wait a decade or more after the onset of symptoms to receive a diagnosis of endometriosis. The painful condition, which causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow on other parts of the body, afflicts 1 in 10 women worldwide.
New tests being used in other countries aim to help address the issue. And while they’re raising hopes among doctors and patients, they’re not currently available in the U.S., and some experts expect them to be a useful tool but not a complete solution.