We’ve Been Saying This for Years

If you’ve ever spoken to someone with endometriosis—or if you’re living with it yourself—you’ll know just how long and painful the journey to diagnosis can be. On average, it takes eight years to get a formal diagnosis. And in my practice, endometriosis is one of the most frustrating conditions to work with not because we can't help, but because getting that formal diagnosis is often a marathon of waiting, misdiagnoses, and dismissal of symptoms.

That’s why the recent landmark study from the University of Edinburgh caught my eye—and, frankly, made me feel a mix of hope and, if I’m honest, a little exasperation. Scientists have finally started to take note of something we’ve been seeing in clinical practice for decades: diet can make a big difference.

What the Study Found

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, is the largest international survey on diet and endometriosis ever conducted, involving over 2,500 people across 51 countries. The numbers are significant:

• 45% of those who cut out gluten reported less pain
• 45% also saw improvements after removing dairy
• 43% experienced reduced pain after cutting down on caffeine
• 53% noticed a difference when they drank less alcohol
• 40% felt better after cutting back on processed foods
• Nearly a third found relief when eliminating onions and garlic

It’s not just coincidence. These changes impact gut bacteria, inflammation, hormone activity—and we’ve long known that these are all intimately connected to endometriosis symptoms.

“We've Been Saying This for Years”

For those of us in functional medicine, these findings don’t come as a surprise. We’ve been recommending anti-inflammatory diets for years—rich in colourful vegetables, omega-3s, fibre, and low in ultra-processed, sugar-laden, or oestrogen-mimicking foods.

But we don’t stop at diet.

We also focus on oestrogen metabolism. That’s because endometriosis is oestrogen-sensitive—meaning excess or poorly metabolised oestrogen can drive the growth of that painful tissue. Supporting the liver, balancing the microbiome, and ensuring healthy phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification pathways are key parts of this work.

And when you do this properly, I’ve seen women go from constant pain and bloating to living symptom-free. Not always, not overnight—but it is possible.

The Diagnostic Revolution: Ziwig Endotest®

Another big piece of the puzzle is diagnosis—and here too, there’s promising news.

The Ziwig Endotest®, now available in the UK, is a groundbreaking, non-invasive saliva test that uses advanced AI and microRNA analysis to identify endometriosis with 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Compare that with the current system, which often involves years of GP appointments, ultrasounds that miss deep tissue lesions, and eventually a diagnostic laparoscopy under general anaesthetic.

This test could be a game-changer for earlier diagnosis and access to care—and for the first time, women may not need to “prove” their symptoms over and over again to be taken seriously.

A Personal Note

For those living with endometriosis: I see how exhausting this journey can be. But please know—there is hope. Whether it’s tweaking your diet, supporting oestrogen metabolism, reducing inflammation, or finally getting clarity through the right tests, change is possible.

And for those of us working in integrative and functional medicine—this study is a vindication of sorts. It reinforces what we’ve been observing in practice all along: when you treat the root causes, not just the symptoms, the body starts to heal.

If you’re struggling with endometriosis and would like to explore these approaches in a personalised way, I’d love to help.

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