Symptoms can include heavy periods and pain in the stomach, lower back or pelvic area
Endometriosis could be diagnosed by a blood test for hormone differences instead of surgery, new research suggests.
The condition – which affects one in 10 women in the UK – is when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of it.
It can cause severe and debilitating symptoms such as pelvic pain, heavy periods, fatigue and infertility.
The charity Endometriosis UK says the average waiting time for a diagnosis in Scotland is more than 10 years, and new research from the University of Edinburgh hopes to simplify this process.
The researchers, external found differences in a group of androgens – so-called male hormones, which are also present in females – compared with those without the condition.
This could simplify diagnosis of the disease, which is currently confirmed through surgery.
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More stories from Scotland
However, researchers added that the findings would need to be tested in a larger and more diverse population.
They also said more research was needed to compare the method with other conditions that showed hormonal imbalances, so it was easier to identify endometriosis.
Endometriosis is driven by female hormones – oestrogen and progesterone – linked to the menstrual cycle.
But research into the role of androgens, such as testosterone, has been limited.
Scientists looked at hormone levels in the blood of 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 women without the condition.
Researchers found that those with endometriosis had a distinct hormone fingerprint, including high levels of some androgens.
This was used to differentiate between those with and without endometriosis, correctly identifying more than 95% of endometriosis patients.
The research team is now looking for industry partners to help develop a diagnostic blood test based on the findings.
Other researchers are looking at whether the condition can be diagnosed by a new scan technique or a saliva test.
The research team also included scientists from the universities of Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham.
The study's principal investigator, Dr Douglas Gibson, from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Reproductive Health, said: "These findings mark a significant breakthrough in our understanding of endometriosis.
"Traditionally seen as an oestrogen-driven disorder, our research challenges this view by showing different androgen levels in the condition.
"We are optimistic that this new insight will lead to earlier diagnosis and the development of innovative new treatments for those affected by endometriosis."
Dr Susan Bodie, from Edinburgh Innovations, the university's commercialisation service, said the discovery addressed an "important unmet need in the field of women's health".
She urged partners who could help develop the diagnostic technology to get in touch.
Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said a reliable, non-surgical diagnostic test was "much needed" and "long-awaited", and called the new research "promising".
She said it could drive down diagnosis times to just a few months, but larger trials would be essential to validate the findings.
"This is exactly why investment in endometriosis research matters – and why we will be following the progress of this research with interest," she added.
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