Endometriosis can elude diagnosis for years. What to know about the disease and new ways to find it

Diagnosing endometriosis is often a challenge. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists says people can wait a decade or more after the onset of symptoms to receive a diagnosis. (AP video: Shelby Lum)

Zoë Armstrong, an endometriosis patient, rests during her pelvic floor physical therapy appointment with physical therapist Emma Codman, standing, in New York, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Zoë Armstrong, an endometriosis patient, rests during her pelvic floor physical therapy appointment in New York, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Zoë Armstrong, an endometriosis patient, sits for a photo in her home in New York, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

When Zoë Armstrong got an ultrasound report showing signs of endometriosis, she called her mom and cried. After years of suffering and seeking help from doctors, she finally had an answer.