Startup developing AI technology to identify endometriosis

Currently working up to proof-of-concept stage, the technology being developed by Demetria aims to speed up diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and eliminate the need for laparoscopic surgery currently used to provide a definitive diagnosis of the disease.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition impacting over 1.5 million women in the UK, and nearly 200 million globally. In the UK alone, endometriosis costs the UK economy around £8.2bn every year in healthcare outlay. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, which can lead to severe pain, infertility, and other complications.

Diagnosing the condition is challenging because its symptoms overlap with other health issues such as fibroids.

“The average woman in the UK takes more than 10 ultrasound visits and 10 gynae appointments to even get to a diagnosis,” explained Lorna Maclean, Demetria’s founder and CEO. “And then, currently, the only definitive gold standard for a diagnosis is an invasive laparoscopic surgery, which a lot of women don't want because there's no cure for this.”