Endometriosis NZ Urges Adoption Of New Clinical Guideline

Endometriosis New Zealand is calling on the Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora to urgently replace New Zealand's outdated clinical practice recommendations for endometriosis (Ministry of Health, New Zealand, 2020) with the new Australian Living Evidence Guideline (RANZCOG, 2025) developed by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

"This new guideline represents the gold standard in evidence-based care and is already being implemented across Australia," says Dr Michael Wynn-Williams, Chair of Endometriosis New Zealand's Clinical Advisory Committee.

The new RANZCOG guideline recommends the use of non-invasive imaging such as pelvic ultrasound as a first-line diagnostic tool, moving away from the reliance on diagnostic laparoscopy, which has long contributed to excessive wait times for diagnosis in New Zealand.

Dr Michael Wynn-Williams says the current 2020 Ministry of Health document is no longer fit for purpose.

"Our current guideline is now outdated and out of step with modern diagnostic and treatment practices."

"By contrast, RANZCOG's new guideline reflects the latest evidence and provides clear recommendations for early diagnosis as well as first-line hormonal treatment to be run in parallel with diagnostic investigations. These are crucial to reducing the delays in diagnosis and treatment that too many patients still experience."

The adoption of this guideline would bring New Zealand into line with global best practice and ensure patients receive faster, less invasive and more equitable care, says Endometriosis New Zealand Chief Executive Tanya Cooke.

"We have written to the Ministry and Te Whatu Ora urging them to adopt the new guideline as soon as possible. It's also really important that they work with RANZCOG and others to support application of it across the sector, and for the benefit of the 120,000 New Zealanders living with endometriosis."

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