Medical reviews suggest that between 25% and 50% of women with infertility are estimated to have endometriosis, highlighting the need for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
For thousands of women across the UAE, severe period pain, chronic pelvic discomfort, and unexplained fertility struggles often become part of daily life long before a diagnosis is made.
Multiple clinical reviews and consensus statements from organisations such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) suggest that 25–50% of women with infertility are estimated to have endometriosis, highlighting the need for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Medical experts say endometriosis — a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — remains significantly under-recognised, leaving many women to suffer in silence for years.
The issue has taken on greater urgency as healthcare providers across the UAE report rising awareness of women’s reproductive health concerns.
Yet despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, endometriosis remains one of the most frequently missed gynaecological conditions, with symptoms often mistaken for other disorders.
Diagnostic delays can stretch beyond a decade
“Endometriosis remains one of the most under-recognised conditions in gynaecology. A landmark study of 512 Arab patients found that the average diagnostic delay was 11.61 years, rising to 15.81 years among unmarried women,” said Dr Khulood Ali Al Suwaidi, consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Burjeel Medical Center, Al Falah.
She explained that several factors contribute to these delays, noting that definitive diagnosis often requires laparoscopic surgery, while the condition itself can be difficult to identify because symptom severity does not always reflect disease progression.
Cultural attitudes towards menstrual pain also play a role in delaying care. “Period-related pain is often culturally perceived as something women must simply endure rather than a reason to seek medical attention, which delays presentation,” she added.
Symptoms often mistaken for other conditions
One of the key challenges for clinicians is that endometriosis symptoms overlap with several other gynaecological and gastrointestinal conditions.
Ramya Raj, specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, said it can mimic adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome and interstitial cystitis.
She noted that young women are often initially treated with painkillers or hormonal therapy without further investigation, and in some cases imaging may not detect the condition.
“Ultrasound may appear normal in women with superficial endometriosis, creating false reassurance if clinical suspicion is low,” she said.
Raj stressed that persistent pain affecting daily life should not be ignored. “Pain that interferes with education, work or quality of life should never be considered a normal part of menstruation.”
New approaches could speed up diagnosis
Healthcare experts say the global medical community is increasingly shifting towards earlier, symptom-based diagnosis rather than relying solely on surgery.
Dr Soha Abdelgadir Yassin Nasr, consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology at NMC Royal Hospital Abu Dhabi, said recent international guidelines encourage clinicians to make a presumptive diagnosis based on history, symptoms and examination findings.
“Recent guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other major medical societies now recommend moving beyond surgical confirmation alone to establish a clinical diagnosis earlier,” she said.
This approach, she added, enables earlier treatment and recognises endometriosis as a long-term condition requiring ongoing management.
For the UAE, she suggested improvements such as better physician training, symptom-based care pathways, faster referrals to specialists, and stronger public awareness campaigns.
“Raising public awareness through health campaigns can help reduce menstrual stigma and encourage earlier care-seeking,” she said.
