Australian Study Provides First National Benchmark for Endometriosis Diagnosis in General Practice
21 Oct 2025
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the Monash University SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence study found that the number of women diagnosed with endometriosis at a GP practice nearly doubled over a decade, with a median time from first symptoms to diagnosis of 2.5 years.
The research analysed care provided to 19,786 women aged 14–49 by 660 GPs across 2,700 clinics between 2011 and 2021. While most women first seek help from a GP, little is known about how the condition presents and is managed in primary care, particularly given the broad range of symptoms it can cause.
Key findings include:
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Two-thirds (66.7%) of women had at least one documented symptom before diagnosis, including pelvic pain (40.8%) and dysmenorrhea (22.1%).
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Use of pelvic ultrasound by GPs prior to diagnosis increased from 18.9% in 2011 to 48.6% in 2021, consistent with current national guideline recommendations.
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Despite guidelines recommending hormonal contraception as a first-line therapy, prescribing of opioids and gabapentinoids post-diagnosis increased, indicating opportunities to improve management.
Professor Danielle Mazza, SPHERE Director and study lead, said the increase in diagnoses reflects both greater community awareness and increased awareness among GPs.
The study supports the development of SPHERE’s national Endometriosis Management Plan (EMP), funded under the Federal Government’s National Action Plan for Endometriosis. The EMP is currently being piloted in general practices across Australia and is expected to roll out nationally in May 2026.
Professor Mazza noted the findings provide important guidance for implementing the EMP, helping GPs and patients understand and apply guideline recommendations in everyday care.
“This study gives us a clear baseline and highlights areas where care can be improved, including earlier use of pelvic ultrasound and first-line therapies,” she said.
The research also offers rare international insights into endometriosis in general practice, with experts in the UK and Europe taking particular interest in the findings.
Source: Medical Journal of Australia / Monash University SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence
