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.