DiscoverScience FridayEndometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?
Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?

Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?

Update: 2025-11-03
Share

Description

Endometriosis is a painful disease that occurs when endometrium-like tissue grows outside of the uterus. It’s extremely common—if you have a uterus, you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting it. Yet, it takes seven years on average to receive a formal diagnosis. What does the latest science tell us about the biology of the condition and how to treat it? And why do so many people have such a difficult time getting diagnosed? 

Host Flora Lichtman is joined by endometriosis researcher and patient Linda Griffith to answer those questions and more. 

Guest: Dr. Linda Griffith is a biological engineer and Scientific Director of The MIT Center for Gynepathology Research.

Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.


Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?

Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?

Shoshannah Buxbaum, Flora Lichtman