Endometriosis Action Month 2023
75% would not go to doctor with potential endometriosis symptoms, which include chronic pelvic pain, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating, painful sex, fatigue and difficulty getting pregnant
The data, from a survey of 2,000 UK respondents conducted by Endometriosis UK, is being released to mark the start of Endometriosis Action Month (March 2023).
More than a fifth would worry doctors might not take symptoms seriously. Figures 'must act as a wake-up call' to Government and NHS', says charity.
Many would not feel comfortable talking about periods and menstrual health with family, friends, colleagues or medics.
The research shows that three quarters (75%) said they would put off going to see a doctor if they were experiencing painful periods which were interfering with day-to-day activities. This figure rises to 92% of those aged 16-34.
Among those who said they would put off going to see a doctor in this situation, 24% said it was because they considered painful periods to be a normal part of life, while 23% said they would think it was “not serious enough to bother a doctor with”.
Chronic pelvic pain and painful periods that interfere with your everyday life can be symptoms of endometriosis. This common, sometimes debilitating but often-ignored disease affects 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth, and can impact all areas of life including mental health, career and relationships.
Common symptoms include:
- chronic pelvic pain;
- painful periods;
- pain during or after sex;
- painful bowel movements
- pain when urinating
- fatigue; and
- difficulty getting pregnant.
Those with one or more of these symptoms may want to keep a pain and symptoms diary to help them in discussion with their doctor to help diagnosis, Endometriosis UK advises. Getting an earlier diagnosis of endometriosis allows access to treatment and management options; without this, the disease may progress.
Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, says: “These findings must be a wake-up call for society as a whole, including Governments and the NHS: we cannot continue to ignore and normalise the sometimes debilitating symptoms of endometriosis, and the impact of this disease and other menstrual health condition. With an average time to diagnosis of eight years, urgent action is needed to ensure all those affected by endometriosis have a prompt diagnosis and access to the right care.”
