Women hail ‘life-changing’ endometriosis drug

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 26, 2026

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved two new oral drug therapies, relugolix combination therapy and linzagolix, for treating endometriosis in March 2023, leading to a significant increase in prescriptions and symptom relief for thousands of affected women in the UK. These medications offer a long-term, non-surgical option that suppresses hormones causing pain and other symptoms, addressing a condition that has historically been underdiagnosed and poorly managed.

Thousands of women in the United Kingdom have reported significant relief from symptoms of endometriosis following the approval of two new drug therapies by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) last year. Endometriosis, a condition affecting approximately one in ten women, often goes undiagnosed for nearly a decade, with limited treatment options beyond hormonal contraception until recent developments.

NICE approved relugolix combination therapy and linzagolix in March 2023 for the management of endometriosis-related pain. Since then, prescriptions for these medications have more than doubled, rising from 4,100 in April 2023 to around 12,000 by March 2024. Both drugs work by suppressing the hormones that contribute to endometriosis and uterine fibroids, offering a potential alternative to traditional hormone injections. Unlike older treatments, these oral therapies can be used long term and may provide quicker symptom relief.

Patients who have taken the drugs described the impact as transformative. Lucy Ford, who began experiencing endometriosis symptoms at 13, started relugolix in January 2024 and reports being nearly free of constant pain and other debilitating symptoms such as bloating and frequent bowel movements. Similarly, Ruth Ajayi, 45, who had been told her heavy bleeding and severe pain were normal, adopted the medication to avoid a hysterectomy. She has been able to manage her symptoms effectively without undergoing surgery so far. Another patient, Clare Gallagher, 46, used the medication to control severe pain while awaiting a hysterectomy and noted an improved ability to maintain her daily activities, including going to work.

Although these therapies had been approved for fibroids in 2022, their endorsement for endometriosis is relatively recent. Medical experts emphasize that while the treatments do not suit every patient, they represent a significant step forward in addressing the longstanding challenges faced by women with endometriosis. Dr. Marie Anne Ledingham, NICE’s consultant clinical adviser for women’s and reproductive health, highlighted the importance of the new therapies in reducing delays and dismissals often experienced by patients. She also stressed the need for increased awareness to promote informed conversations between patients and healthcare providers.

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