RAY OF HOPE
New daily pill to treat ‘agonising and debilitating’ condition that plagues 1.5million women gets NHS green light
Plus, telltale symptoms of the debilitating condition that can take years to diagnose
A NEW daily pill to treat 'debilitating and life-limiting' endometriosis will be rolled on the NHS after getting the green light.
The condition - which causes intense pain, extreme tiredness and heavy periods - plagues an estimated 1.5 million women in the UK.
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Women who've tried other medical or surgical treatments for endometriosis without success will be eligible to take the once-a-day pill, called linzagolix.
It works by blocking specific hormones that contribute to the symptoms of endometriosis.
In clinical trials, the pill was shown to reduce painful periods and pelvic pain.
It was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on May 1, giving it the green light for NHS use.
Read more on endometriosis
The treatment will become available to patients in England in the next few months, with the health service estimating that more than 1,000 women a year could use the pill to manage their agonising symptoms.
Linzagolix tablets will be given alongside ‘add-back’ hormone therapy, which involves using low-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent menopause-like symptoms and bone loss.
It's already been approved for treating fibroids.
Women’s health minister Baroness Merron said: “This could be a game-changer for thousands of women battling endometriosis, which can be a debilitating and life-limiting condition."
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Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis.
It also sometimes affects organs, such as the bladder and bowel.
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Symptoms happen when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed during your period, but cannot leave the body.
Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director in Women’s Health for NHS England, said: “This is welcome news for women with endometriosis who haven’t found relief from previous therapies or surgery.
"It’s another treatment option which will help women take control of their health and better manage the symptoms of this often painful and debilitating condition."
The rollout of linzagolix will give women "more choice in treatment they can take in the comfort of their own homes", she added.
Baroness Merron, meanwhile, said it marks a "turning tide" for women's health "after years of neglect".
Tina Backhouse, UK general manager of Theramex, which makes the drug, said there are "significant gaps and delays for women in diagnosis and treatment of their endometriosis".
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She added: "This decision by NICE can only be one step in a much longer journey towards equitable treatment for women in the NHS, ensuring that all women, regardless of race or background, receive timely and effective care."
Linzagolix is the second take-at-home treatment to be approved for endometriosis in recent months.
Relugolix combination therapy – the first long-term pill licensed to treat the condition – was greenlit for NHS use in March.
As with linzagolix, only patients who have tried all other treatment options can be given the pill.
Again, it was estimated that the combination drug could help around 1,000 women every year in England.
It can take up to nine years after symptoms first appear for endometriosis sufferers to be diagnosed with the agonising condition.
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There is also no known cure for the condition, but treatment can ease symptoms.
Painkillers and hormonal treatments such as the combined contraceptive pill can help, and some people may be offered surgery to remove areas of endometriosis.
Signs you could have endometriosis
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body.
Symptoms happen when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed during your period but cannot leave your body.
You might have some symptoms during your period, such as:
- Severe period pain, that stops you from doing your normal activities
- Heavy periods, where you need to change your pads or tampons every one to two hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes.
- Pain when you poo or pee
You can have other symptoms at any time in your menstrual cycle, such as:
- Pain in your lower tummy and back (pelvic area)
- Pain during or after sex
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Pain or bleeding in other areas, such as in the chest, which may cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood
You may also have difficulty getting pregnant and have low mood or anxiety.
See your GP if:
- You think you might have endometriosis
- Your symptoms are affecting your everyday life, work and relationships
- You've had treatment from a GP but your symptoms do not get better, or get worse
Source: NHS
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