It's estimated that 1.5 million women and people registered female at birth are affected by endometriosis: a condition which sees tissue similar to the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body.
While, on average, it takes eight years to be diagnosed with endometriosis, there are, thankfully, new breakthroughs in treatment.
Today (13th March) a new endometriosis pill has been approved on NHS in England.
It's a first-of-a-kind daily pill, which can be taken at home. However, it will only be available to patients who have tried all other options.
Here's what you need to know about the new, daily endometriosis pill and how it works.
What is the endometriosis pill?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has just approved the pill relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone for use on the NHS in England.
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The pill can be taken at home, rather than at a clinic, allowing patients to have more flexibility and freedom in managing their care.
However, the pill is only recommended for patients for whom other treatments for endometriosis, be they medical or surgical, have not worked. NICE estimates that this will amount to around 1000 patients per year.
The pill can also be prescribed to treat moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids.
How does the endometriosis pill work?
The endometriosis pill works by blocking hormones that contribute to endometriosis and providing necessary hormone replacement.
It will reduce the need for patients to take multiple medications, as well as the need to attend clinical appointments for injections.
Compared to current injectable treatments (GnRH analogue injections), which may initially worsen symptoms, it gets to work quickly, combines hormones in one pill and can be taken at home.
The pill was initially rejected by Nice, until new evidence was provided by the manufacturer surrounding its efficacy and value for money.
How effective is the endometriosis pill?
The endometriosis pill has been subjected to clinical trials.
The outcome of the clinical trial evidence showed that the treatment reduced pain compared to a placebo.
However, the pill hasn't been directly compared to injectable or surgical treatments currently used to treat endometriosis, but Nice notes note that we can deduce from indirect comparisons that it is "likely" the pill will reduce pelvic pain as efficiently as GnRH analogues.
If you have been affected by this article, help and resources are available at Endometriosis UK and Endometriosis South Coast
For medical advice, speak to your GP, and for support or someone to talk to, you can call the Endometriosis UK helpline on 0808 808 2227, just check opening times here as they can differ.
Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK’s Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.
