Launched by the NHS in the North West in January 2026, the pathway is focused on earlier recognition and treatment of the condition.
The approach aims to improve care across primary and secondary settings, with a focus on reducing delays in diagnosis.
Dr Paula Cowan, NHS England North West’s medical director for primary care and national specialty advisor with the Women’s Team, said: “Early consideration and recognition of endometriosis is key, both in general practice and in the community.
“The earlier endometriosis is recognised and diagnosed, the better the care the NHS can give.
“In this new pathway, we’ve looked closely at how engaging with patients and GPs, workforce planning and better use of data can help reduce waiting lists and ensure people get the help they need.
“Too many women feel that they have not been listened to regarding their heavy, painful periods are normal.
“From the very first contact with a patient presenting with heavy painful periods, we need to be thinking: could this be endometriosis?”
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body, according to the NHS website.
It affects around one in 10 women aged 15 to 45, but diagnosis can often take years and involve repeated misdiagnoses.
More than 1,000 women in Bolton have been diagnosed with endometriosis and can wait up to “years for a diagnosis”, it was said last year.
The new pathway includes updated training for healthcare professionals and greater emphasis on public awareness to help address delays.
Patients have shared concerns over the length of time it currently takes to be diagnosed and the impact on quality of life.
Millie Campbell, 20, is still waiting for a formal diagnosis.
Her symptoms began at age 12 and have included chronic pain and severe bloating.
She said: “I’ve been on several different contraceptive pills, but none of them have worked.
“The pain feels like a ball of barbed wire, and regular pain relief just doesn’t touch it.”
Despite an MRI last year, she does not yet know if she will be offered a laparoscopy.
Millie now works with the charity Woman Up, delivering period education sessions in schools to help young people understand menstrual health and identify abnormal symptoms.
The workshops are part of a broader effort to promote understanding, tackle stigma, and ensure that no young person feels alone in their experience.
Though 28 per cent of severe endometriosis cases occur in women aged 35 to 44, the condition often begins much earlier.
Dr Cowan said: “The more people know, the better the understanding.”