Endometriosis and fibroid tablets in England: prescriptions soar
October 27, 2026
Endometriosis and fibroid tablets in England are being prescribed in much larger numbers. More than 12,000 people were prescribed relugolix CT or linzagolix by GPs between April 2025 and March 2026, almost three times the 4,100 people prescribed them the previous year. Total NHS use of the two medicines more than tripled over the same period, from 1.2 million to 3.7 million tablets.
The GP figure understates the number treated, because treatment usually starts in hospital and primary care figures mainly capture repeat prescriptions. NICE’s monthly chart, which includes primary and secondary care, rises from fewer than 1,000 tablets provided to patients in June 2022 to more than 500,000 in June 2026.
Who is taking endometriosis and fibroid tablets in England
Clare Gallagher, 46, started the tablets in October 2025 while waiting for a hysterectomy. “I could go to work, whereas the pain I used to get would put me in bed,” she says. Lucy Ford says she is almost pain-free on relugolix CT. Ruth Ajayi, 45, chose a tablet instead of a hysterectomy and has avoided surgery so far, but has temporarily stopped the medicine after pain and hot flushes. Ruth is a lay member of several NICE committees and speaks in a personal capacity.
Why it matters
A GP quoted in the article says the NICE recommendation gave clinicians confidence to use the tablets, for a condition that takes an average of nine years to diagnose in the UK. NICE has also conditionally recommended Endotest, a saliva test that could help GPs diagnose endometriosis faster. Our piece on conditional adoption pathways for endometriosis diagnostics covers the reimbursement routes that balance earlier access with real-world evidence. The article gives no cost figures, so the effect on NHS spending cannot be read from it. A consultant says more information on long-term safety is still needed, and that regular check-ups, including bone health scans, are important. Our piece on endometriosis care in the UK describes the diagnostic and treatment pathways.
Source: NICE news article
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