A “first-of-a-kind" pill to help women suffering with endometriosis is set to become available on the NHS.

Endometriosis is a debilitating disease that affects nearly 1.5 million people in the UK and many more are most likely suffering from the disease without even knowing about it as it can take up to ten years just to get diagnosed. It’s caused when cells of those found in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. These cells grow, shrink, move and change as hormones do during the menstrual cycle which causes immense chronic pain, fertility issues and fatigue.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) one in ten reproductive age girls are affected by endometriosis meaning that many women and young girls spend years in debilitating pain causing them to miss out on education, work, and their social lives.

There is no cure for endometriosis and many women have been left to fend for themselves as they attempt to manage their pain. Current treatments include: surgery although this is not permanent and many people find that they need surgery again to remove their endometriosis, hormonal treatments that work to prevent endometriosis from growing as quickly as it blocks the body’s production of oestrogen but it only lasts three months, and pain relief.

This new tablet that would be taken daily is known as relugolix combination therapy and has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a long-term treatment for endometriosis. This tablet is stated to work faster than other treatments and can be taken from the comfort of your own home which will be a huge benefit to people as they won’t need to travel to clinics while being in immeasurable pain.

Director of medicines evaluation at NICE, Helen Knight, stated that it was “a potential step-change in how we manage endometriosis, putting control back in patients’ hands while ensuring value for the taxpayer.”

However, this tablet will only be available for a limited number of people who have already had surgery and tried other medical alternatives which is roughly equivalent to a 1,000 people in the UK.

Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said, “It’s a step forward and will give patients more choice, but it will impact a relatively small number of people.”

Breakthrough endometriosis pill to become available on NHS