A decade to wait: Update on the average delay to diagnosis for endometriosis in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Endometriosis is a common condition with varying delays from symptom onset to diagnosis reported internationally. In New Zealand, the previously accepted average delay to diagnosis was 8.6–8.7 years. An online survey completed by the largest cohort of self-reported New Zealand-confirmed endometriosis patients (n = 1024) for the collection of delay to diagnosis was conducted in September and October of 2023. The results revealed an average delay of 9.7 ± 7.1 years overall, with a significantly longer delay in the North Island than in the South. This study identifies potential factors for future research that may influence diagnostic delays in New Zealand.