‘First-of-a-kind’ daily pill for endometriosis treatment approved for NHS in England

A new daily pill that could transform the way endometriosis is treated has been approved for use on the NHS across England, the medicines watchdog has announced.

About 1,000 women a year living with endometriosis will be able to access relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone. The “first-of-a-kind” treatment, which was initially rejected by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), works by blocking the specific hormones that contribute to endometriosis while providing necessary hormone replacement.

The medication eliminates the need for multiple medications and regular trips to clinics for injections.

Unlike current injectable treatments which can initially worsen symptoms, the pill can be taken at home, works more quickly and combines hormones in one pill.

Endometriosis care has also long been recognised as substandard, with a previous report finding that on average women are waiting nearly nine years for a diagnosis in the UK.

A spokesperson for Endometriosis UK welcomed the decision by Nice, adding: “Endometriosis UK believes that women and those assigned female at birth in the UK should be able to choose the right treatment and management options for them.

“We recommend that treatment decisions are always made in partnership with the individual and their medical practitioner. There are far too few options available due to the historic lack of research into endometriosis.”

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Source: The Guardian, 13 March 2025