Scientists have developed a blood test that can detect up to 90 per cent of cases of endometriosis.

The painful condition, suffered by around 1.5 million women in the UK, is difficult to diagnose, with the average sufferer waiting more than seven years before it is identified.

Often, patients need to go undergo keyhole surgery to identify tissues around the ovaries and fallopian tubes in order to diagnose the condition.

The new test looks for tiny DNA fragments in the blood, providing a diagnosis with in days, meaning women can be offered treatment far sooner.

The test, developed by MDNA Life Sciences and experts at the University of Oxford, will be available privately within nine months at a cost of about £250.