For years, the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis - where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body - was through a surgical procedure. But this week, it was announced that rapid, non-invasive tests would be made available on the NHS in England and Wales. Cue a collective sigh of relief from the countless women who were told their extreme pain and heavy periods were 'just part of being a woman.'

Zoe Armstrong, 35, from Bristol, lost two pregnancies - including an ectopic pregnancy that became 'trapped' due to her endometriosis. She said a rapid test could have made all the difference. 'There is a little bit of sadness because there are so many people out there who haven't been diagnosed yet,' she said. 'Hopefully this will cut their waiting times down.'

Charlotte Hutchings, 36, took 21 years to get her diagnosis after suffering symptoms from age 11. She said she was 'just constantly told it's in your head.' A report by Endometriosis UK in March found the average time to diagnosis is now more than nine years - up from eight in 2020. So progress is... going backwards?

New research also suggests the condition could be diagnosed by blood test, though further testing is needed. Jakia Hussain, 42, a biomedical scientist and co-leader of the Gloucestershire Endometriosis Support Group, urged the NHS to make the new tests 'really accessible' and to learn from past diagnostic rollouts.

Iona Hall, 30, spent six years in pain before being diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis, facing two surgeries and fundraising £21,000 to freeze her eggs. 'I feel like my whole 20s got taken away from me,' she said. 'If I could have just gone to the doctors and told them a couple of my symptoms and they did a test, then my endometriosis might not have got to Stage 4.'

Hussain summed it up: 'Periods are a normal part of life, we should be talking about it.' Indeed, maybe the next breakthrough will be actually listening to women.