Science Friday

Endometriosis Is Common. Why Is Getting Diagnosed So Hard?

Nov 3, 2025 · 18 min · Episode 1158 · 17.8 MB
0:00-18:25

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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.

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