Functional testing for endometriosis: Why guessing keeps people stuck

Endometriosis is a complex, inflammatory, and hormone-responsive condition. Yet many people are still given generic advice to “balance hormones” or “reduce inflammation” without anyone actually looking at what’s happening inside their body.

This is where functional testing becomes powerful.

Functional testing allows us to move away from assumptions and towards understanding your unique drivers. Two people can have the same diagnosis of endometriosis and completely different hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic patterns underneath it.

When we test, we stop guessing.

Why testing matters in endometriosis

Endometriosis is not just about having “too much oestrogen”. It’s about how hormones are being produced, metabolised, cleared, and how they interact with inflammation, stress, and the immune system.

Symptoms like pelvic pain, bloating, heavy periods, fatigue, and flare-ups often persist because the underlying drivers haven’t been identified.

Functional testing helps us understand:

• How hormones are behaving over time.

• Whether hormone clearance pathways are overloaded.

• How stress and sleep are influencing symptoms.

• Whether inflammation is being fuelled systemically.

This level of insight allows support to be personalised rather than protocol-driven.

The EndoMAP: Seeing how hormones are actually behaving

The primary functional test we use in endometriosis care is the EndoMAP.

The EndoMAP is a dried urine test collected across the day. Rather than giving a single snapshot, it shows how hormones and related markers are being metabolised and cleared over time.

This test provides insight into:

• The different forms of oestrogen in the body.

• Phase one and phase two oestrogen metabolism.

• Progesterone metabolites.

• Androgen patterns.

• Cortisol and cortisone rhythms.

• Melatonin and sleep signalling.

• Markers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, detox capacity and endocrine disrupters.

This is particularly important in endometriosis. Many people are told their hormones are “normal”, yet symptoms persist. Often, the issue isn’t hormone levels themselves, but how those hormones are being processed and cleared.

If oestrogen metabolism or clearance pathways are under strain, symptoms can continue even when standard blood tests appear unremarkable.

The EndoMAP helps us see where the system is getting stuck.

Pathology testing: Essential context

Functional testing doesn’t replace pathology. It works alongside it.

Blood tests give us essential baseline information about how the body is functioning systemically, especially under chronic inflammatory stress.

In endometriosis care, we routinely assess a core group of pathology markers, including:

Hormone panel (day 3 of the cycle)
Day 3 testing gives insight into early-cycle hormone signalling and ovarian function. This timing helps us understand how the cycle is being initiated and whether baseline patterns may be contributing to pain, heavy bleeding, or cycle disruption.

Iron status
Iron deficiency is extremely common in people with endometriosis, particularly when periods are heavy or prolonged. Low iron can worsen fatigue, reduce pain tolerance, and impair recovery. We assess iron status properly, not just haemoglobin, to understand true iron stores.

Insulin
Insulin plays a role in inflammation, hormone signalling, and energy regulation. Even without conditions like PCOS or diabetes, insulin dysregulation can worsen fatigue, cravings, and inflammatory load. Understanding insulin patterns helps guide blood sugar support more precisely.

Thyroid function
The thyroid influences metabolism, energy, digestion, and cycle regularity. Suboptimal thyroid patterns can amplify fatigue, constipation, heavy periods, and reduced resilience. Thyroid dysfunction is often overlooked in endometriosis, despite its close relationship with chronic inflammation.

Other pathology that may be useful

Beyond the core testing included in structured programs like Thrive, additional pathology may be considered depending on symptoms, history, and response to initial support.

This can include:

Inflammation markers
Markers such as CRP or ESR can help assess systemic inflammatory load, especially when pain is severe or widespread.

Vitamin and nutrient status
Vitamin D, B12, folate, and magnesium can be relevant, particularly when fatigue, pain sensitivity, mood changes, or poor recovery are present.

Liver markers
Liver enzymes can provide insight into how well the body is coping with detoxification demands, which is particularly relevant when oestrogen clearance is under strain.

Autoimmune screening
In some cases, additional screening may be appropriate where autoimmune patterns or thyroid autoimmunity are suspected.

These tests are not run routinely for everyone. They are chosen intentionally, based on clinical presentation, to avoid unnecessary testing or overwhelm.

Why we combine functional testing and pathology

Pathology provides a snapshot.
Functional testing shows patterns over time.

When combined, they offer a far more complete picture of what’s driving symptoms and where support is needed most. This allows care to be targeted, measured, and adjusted as the body responds.

It also means fewer random supplements, fewer generic protocols, and more confidence in the direction of care.

Moving forward with clarity

Functional testing isn’t about finding something “wrong”. It’s about understanding how your body is adapting, compensating, and coping.

For many people with endometriosis, this information is the missing piece. Not more effort. Not more restriction. Just clearer insight.

Your body isn’t failing you. It’s communicating.

And testing helps us listen.