Endometriosis can affect many parts of daily life. It can cause pelvic pain, heavy periods, tiredness and fertility problems, making work, relationships and everyday activities more difficult.

It happens when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body – such as on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder or bowel. There is currently no cure, but treatments can help to manage symptoms.

Our latest analysis shows that more women than ever are receiving private hospital treatment for endometriosis.

Hospital admissions involving the condition increased by 76% between 2022 and 2025, rising much faster than overall private hospital admissions during the same period.

Here's what we found.

More women are getting treatment

We looked at private hospital admissions involving endometriosis between 2022 and 2025.

During that time, admissions increased from around 1,530 every three months in 2022 to around 2,700 every three months in 2025.

The data doesn't tell us exactly why this increase has happened. But it does show that more women are receiving treatment for endometriosis than before.

Greater awareness of the condition may mean more people are recognising their symptoms and seeking help. Increased awareness among healthcare professionals may also be helping more patients reach diagnosis and treatment.

What treatments are patients receiving?

The procedures in our analysis included both tests used to diagnose endometriosis and operations used to treat it.

Common procedures included diagnostic hysteroscopy and surgery to remove endometriosis tissue. The data also suggests that keyhole surgery is used in many cases.

Keyhole surgery uses smaller cuts than traditional surgery, which can often mean a shorter recovery time.

Some patients needed more complex surgery because their endometriosis had spread beyond their reproductive organs. These cases can require specialist care and support from different medical teams.

Why finding the right specialist matters

One thing we noticed in the data was that a lot of endometriosis treatment is carried out by a relatively small number of hospitals and consultants.

This may be because some hospitals specialise in endometriosis and regularly treat more complex cases.

After years of living with symptoms, Amanda discovered that not all surgeons have the same level of experience in treating endometriosis. She eventually decided to travel from York to Birmingham to receive treatment at a specialist endometriosis centre.

Her story highlights something many patients may not realise: you don't always have to choose the nearest hospital. For some people, travelling a little further can mean access to a consultant with more experience of treating endometriosis or a hospital that offers specialist services.

When comparing treatment options, you may want to consider:

• Does this consultant regularly treat endometriosis?
• Does the hospital have a specialist endometriosis service?
• Does the surgeon have experience treating complex cases?
• Will I be able to see other specialists if I need them?

What does this mean for patients?

The rise in treatment reflects the impact endometriosis can have on people's lives.

Everyone's experience is different, and there isn't a single treatment that's right for everyone. But our analysis highlights the importance of understanding your options and finding a specialist with the right experience for your needs.

As Amanda's story shows, finding the right specialist can sometimes make a real difference to your treatment journey.

If you're researching your options, PHIN's consultant and hospital profiles can help you compare providers. Some of the procedures included in our analysis were diagnostic hysteroscopy , laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) and surgery to remove endometriosis tissue , so these may be useful terms to search for when looking at hospitals and consultants.

The analysis in this article was first published in Healthcare Markets magazine and has been adapted for publication on the PHIN website.

Useful resources

• Read: Living with endometriosis – Amanda’s story
• Find support: Endometriosis UK