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Photograph by Jacob Wackerhausen\/Getty Images<\/p>\nPhotograph by Jacob Wackerhausen\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The condition affects one in 10 women, yet is still widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed<\/p>\n
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Every March, Endometriosis Action Month<\/a> brings attention to a condition that affects one in 10 women<\/a>. This year, the theme is Endometriosis Doesn\u2019t Wait \u2014 highlighting the urgent need for faster diagnosis, better care and greater awareness of a disease that is still widely misunderstood.\u00a0<\/p>\n A new report<\/a> by Endometriosis UK found that the average time to receive a diagnosis is now nine years and four months, up from eight years in 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n For women of colour, that figure rises to 11 years \u2014 a two-year gap that reflects well-documented patterns<\/a> of dismissal, cultural barriers to seeking help, and a healthcare system that, as researchers have noted, has historically centred<\/a> white, middle-class women in its studies.<\/p>\n The same report found that 83% of respondents were made to feel they were \u201cmaking a fuss about nothing\u201d by healthcare professionals before they eventually received a diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Muslim women and women of colour, those delays are compounded by deep-rooted stigma around menstruation in many communities, a lack of culturally appropriate health information and structural inequalities within the NHS<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Whether you have been struggling to get answers, are newly diagnosed, or want to support someone close to you, here is a guide to what has happened this March, what is still coming up, and where to find support.\u00a0<\/p>\n What is endometriosis?<\/p>\n Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, such as on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel or bladder. Unlike normal uterine lining tissue, this tissue has no way to leave the body during menstruation. This can lead to inflammation, scar tissue and severe pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n Symptoms can include severe period pain, heavy bleeding, pelvic pain outside of menstruation, bowel and bladder problems, fatigue and difficulties conceiving. They can vary widely \u2014 from manageable to debilitating \u2014 and without timely diagnosis and treatment, the disease can worsen over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n What has already happened this March?<\/p>\n On 5 March, MPs debated<\/a> endometriosis and fibroids in Westminster, raising concerns about long diagnosis times and gaps in care. During the debate, the government confirmed that the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding seven active research awards totalling \u00a37.8 million, including \u00a32.3 million for a study starting in Marcht on the effectiveness of pain management for endometriosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the start of March, Endometriosis UK published its State of Endometriosis Care in the UK report<\/a>, offering one of the most comprehensive recent looks at diagnosis times and patient experiences. The document was produced in partnership with Cysters<\/a>, a grassroots charity<\/a> working to address health inequalities affecting women from ethnic minority backgrounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s coming up\u00a0<\/p>\n Hidden in Pain: Endometriosis diagnosis inequalities in ethnically diverse communities<\/p>\n Later this month, Cysters and Endometriosis UK will release a standalone report examining racial disparities in diagnosis. It will form the most detailed analysis yet of how endometriosis diagnosis timelines differ for women from ethnically diverse communities in the UK.\u00a0<\/p>\n Where to get support\u00a0<\/p>\n Endometriosis UK\u00a0<\/p>\n This charity<\/a> offers a helpline, a nurse support helpline, web chat, and information on local and online support groups across the UK for people living with endometriosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cysters\u00a0<\/p>\n A community-led charity<\/a> that specifically focuses on the menstrual, mental and reproductive health of women from ethnic minority backgrounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n Taahirah<\/p>\n This platform<\/a> is designed for Muslim women, providing faith-sensitive health information that accounts for religious obligations, including guidance on managing conditions such as endometriosis<\/a> and polycystic ovary syndrome<\/a> (PCOS) alongside prayer and fasting.\u00a0<\/p>\n What you can do right now<\/p>\n 1in10 Challenge\u00a0<\/p>\n This fundraising campaign<\/a> encourages supporters to create their own challenge themed around the number 10 \u2014 from running 10km to doing 10 minutes of squats a day \u2014 to raise awareness of the fact that one in 10 women live with endometriosis.<\/p>\n Go Yellow<\/p>\n