Game-changing spit test could shrink years-long wait for diagnosis of condition that affects 190M women

The wait may finally be over for millions of women.A new test which uses a saliva sample may make detecting a serious reproductive condition a much easier and less invasive process.The technique could also provide results faster, meaning earlier diagnosis as well as better treatment and care.On average, women may have to wait up to 11 years between their first symptoms and a diagnosis of endometriosis, according to Yale Medicine.But that wait may be drastically shortened, thanks to a new test, Endotest.Earlier this month, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK gave the go-ahead for the test, which checks a saliva sample for microRNAs that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely present.While NICE said the test is not meant to be a standalone diagnostic tool, the innovative product has been approved for use in clinicians’ offices in England and Wales for three years.Affecting about 1 in 10 women worldwide, endometriosis happens when the uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain.Endometriosis symptoms are often seen with other conditions like painful periods, although plenty of women with the disease have no history of painful periods or pelvic pain.Symptoms can include fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath, irritable bowels, urinary frequency and infertility, among many more.Dr.Sheeva Talebian, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, previously told The Post she was haunted by how long “we’ve conditioned women to believe that debilitating pain is normal.”“Quite frankly, even amongst gynecologists, this disease is still not fully understood or recognized,” Talebian said.

“Therefore, even a gynecologist may miss some of the varying symptoms and pass these women off to other specialists for testing.”During the diagnostic process, many women undergo extensive workups — everything from colonoscopy and endoscopy to abdominal MRIs — but may still walk away with no cl...