MP Calls for Increased Support for Women with Endometriosis Amid Worsening Diagnosis Times

Ellesmere Port Member of Parliament, Justin Madders, has advocated for enhanced support for women facing endometriosis following a recent report revealing a significant decline in diagnosis times over the past three years.

The former Shadow Health Minister was in attendance at a parliamentary gathering hosted by Endometriosis UK, a key organization working in this field.

Endometriosis is a medical condition characterized by tissues similar to the uterine lining growing outside the womb, causing intense pain and potentially impacting fertility. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million women in the United Kingdom are affected by this condition.

Madders expressed his commitment to aiding those battling endometriosis as new data showed that diagnosis times in the UK have worsened markedly, now averaging eight years and ten months.

Addressing the issue, the MP remarked, “Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women in the UK and can have a profound, sometimes devastating impact on all aspects of life. Despite this, it is a disease that is widely unheard of, and without awareness, the pain and symptoms of endometriosis can be dismissed or brushed aside as ‘normal.’”

According to the report, nearly half of the respondents (47%) had made ten or more visits to their general practitioner before receiving a diagnosis, with 70% having visited five times or more.

Merely 10% of the respondents indicated that their GPs suspected endometriosis during their initial or second consultation where symptoms were discussed.

Further findings revealed that 52% had visited Accident & Emergency (A&E) at least once, with less than a fifth (17%) being referred to gynaecology during their initial visit. Additionally, 26% had been to A&E three or more times prior to receiving a diagnosis.

About 20% of the respondents reported seeing a gynaecologist ten or more times before being diagnosed, indicating the challenging journey many individuals face in obtaining a formal diagnosis and subsequent treatment.