Endometriosis: NICE adds dedicated fertility treatment pathway

A dedicated treatment pathway for women with endometriosis who are having difficulty conceiving has been added to national fertility guidelines.The updated fertility guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has for the first time a section for women with endometriosis, in recognition that the condition requires its own tailored approach.1Endometriosis affects around 1.5 million women in the UK and is one of the leading causes of fertility problems. It is a chronic condition where endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus, most commonly within the pelvis and on organs such as the ovaries, bladder, and bowel.NICE published its draft fertility guidance in September 2025 and a public consultation then ran until 21 October 2025.During the consultation, patient groups complained that endometriosis was being grouped with unexplained fertility, despite being a diagnosed condition. The committee agreed this was inappropriate and has now set out a distinct pathway for…