We Need To Get People With Endometriosis The Help They Deserve
We need to talk about endometriosis and how the NHS is letting people down.
March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month and it’s also when we celebrate International Women’s Day, so there’s no better time to talk about the struggles that thousands of people face when it comes to endometriosis and trust me when I say there’s a lot to get into.
Before you read any further if you want to do something to help, stop what you’re doing and sign this petition.
But first things first, what actually is endometriosis?
It’s a medical condition that affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth around the UK. It occurs when cells and tissue that normally line the uterus grow outside of the uterus instead. These cells will react to the menstrual cycle by breaking down and bleeding, however, the blood cannot leave the body and instead causes inflammation, pain and scar tissue. It can be really painful and have a significant impact on the day-to-day lives of those who are suffering from it, especially if it’s not treated.
With SO many people of all ages suffering from endometriosis, you’d think it would be relatively easy to get a diagnosis and treatment, right? Wrong.
Actually, recent reports show that in the UK people have had to wait up to nine YEARS to get an endometriosis diagnosis. I’m not joking, the average person suffering from endometriosis has had to book multiple GP appointments over several years just to get someone to eventually listen to them.
There are also reports of doctors gaslighting or saying it’s just bad period pain or “normal” to feel chronic pain and that it will go away with some paracetamol. Because of this, it’s extremely difficult to be taken seriously and get a diagnosis, which means there are thousands of people in the UK struggling every day and left to deal with it on their own.
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard enough to get a GP appointment as it is, imagine actually getting a rare slot to be told there’s nothing wrong with you and to be sent on your way with chronic pain and no resolution.
For many of us, this is all too common, as I for one don’t know a single friend who hasn’t been dismissed by a doctor and my symptoms being put down to “just stress”, hormones or part of “being a woman” (plot twist: it rarely is just stress, hormones or part of being a woman).
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Unfortunately, endometriosis isn’t spoken about enough meaning that a lot of people aren’t always familiar with what it is and could brush it off as a bad period pain when it’s actually a serious medical condition. Periods are pretty shitty (literally…) as it is, but it turns out some can be more shitty than others and it’s not something you should have to just put up with every month.
The symptoms of endometriosis from the NHS and Endometriosis UK are:
- Chronic period pain that stops you from doing normal activities
- Pain in your lower tummy or back which can get worse during your period
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain when pooing or peeing during your period
- Feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea or blood in your pee or poo while on your period
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Heavy periods causing bleeding through clothes
- Fatigue or lack of energy
If you have any of these symptoms you should contact your GP, however, as we know it’s not always that easy and to make matters even worse endometriosis can be really hard to diagnose.
The best outcome would be a referral to a specialist for an ultrasound, MRI or laparoscopy which could confirm a diagnosis meaning you can move on to appropriate treatment.
Unfortunately, while there is no cure for endometriosis, surgery or hormone medicines can help to ease the pain and make it more manageable.
However, with people literally waiting YEARS for a diagnosis on the NHS, many are forced to suffer on their own…like we don’t go through enough every day as it is.
Endometriosis is a serious and common medical condition, yet with the NHS being so underfunded unfortunately the majority of people suffering are dismissed and sent away. The NHS is amazing in so many ways, yet it’s failing those suffering with endometriosis on a huge scale right now.
Where can I get help for endometriosis?
If you’re struggling with endometriosis in uni, just remember that you’re not alone and there are plenty of places you can get support or talk to other women who are going through the same thing.
Even if you don’t know any friends who are struggling with it, there are thousands of people your age who might also need someone to talk to, because venting and trauma dumping to someone who actually gets it is honestly free therapy.
If you do want to talk to someone, here are some places to start:
- Endometriosis UK has a helpline on 0808 808 2227 which is free and confidential and run by volunteers who have also been diagnosed with endometriosis and can answer any questions you might have or listen if you need support
- Endometriosis UK also has a web chat if you don’t like talking on the phone
- The Endometriosis UK online community is also free to join and allows you to connect with other people and post on forums allowing you to share anonymously if you want advice or just want to chat with someone who knows what you’re going through
The best way to get treatment and help for endometriosis is via your GP and while this might seem like an impossible task, be prepared to fight for your health and keep going back again and again if that’s what it takes.
How can we stop doctors from ignoring endometriosis?
It’s clear that more funding, research and support is needed in order to help the 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth suffering with endometriosis in the UK. This petition is calling for that, and asking for more options for treatment, more specialist clinics and funding to improve what the NHS can currently offer.
If you or someone you know is struggling with endometriosis, sign and share the petition as once it gets to 10,000 signatures it will be acknowledged by the government and if it gets to 100,000 it will be debated in parliament. It’s clear that petitions like this one are the only way to actually fight for change, before the waiting time for a diagnosis increases even more than nine years.
It’s all well and good saying that if men went through this, there would have been a cure decades ago but you can actually do something to help by signing the petition and showing your support to those who are suffering pretty much in silence.
We all need to do more, because International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating our friendships, it’s about highlighting the everyday struggles women (and those who don’t identify as women) face too and showing solidarity, even if it’s not something we personally have to deal with.
We shouldn’t have to live in pain every day or fight to be taken seriously to get a diagnosis from a doctor. So, this National Endometriosis Month and International Women’s Day join us in taking a stand and trying to do something about this.
