Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

MPs to launch inquiry into endometriosis care

Thousands of women have revealed to the BBC how endometriosis has affected their lives.

More than 13,500 women have taken part in BBC research revealing the devastating effect of endometriosis.

Half said they had had suicidal thoughts, and many said they rely on highly addictive painkillers.

Most also said endometriosis - involving painful periods - had badly affected their education, career and relationships.

MPs are to launch an inquiry into women's experiences of endometriosis following the research.

Women with the condition answered questions on how the condition has affected them. The charity Endometriosis UK helped gather the responses.

The condition affects one in 10 women and, as well as extremely heavy periods, can cause debilitating pain and sometimes infertility.

Bethany Willis, who lives in Essex, was one of those who took part in the research. She began having endometriosis symptoms aged just nine.

She knew what it was because her mum and grandmother also have the condition.

Now 19, Bethany says: "The pain is like barbed wire wrapped around your insides and someone's pulling it while at the same time an animal is trying to eat its way through you."

Endometriosis: 'Don't give up on getting help'
Endometriosis: Early diagnosis 'would make huge difference'
Running from endometriosis: 'I feel in control again'
At one point she was in so much pain that she took an overdose.

"I texted my boyfriend and said goodbye. I was ready to end my life there and then because of the pain."

She was finally diagnosed this summer following surgery and - though still in daily pain - she is managing to cope.

"My mind is clearer and I have more energy, but the years of not being treated mean I've had to drop out of veterinary school and my dream career," she said.

Anna Turley MP, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Endometriosis which will carry out the inquiry, said: "It wasn't until I was hospitalised and had the diagnosis that I realised how little attention endometriosis receives, how limited research funding is, and how many women are misdiagnosed."

She said the data gave "millions of affected women a voice" and the APPG would be calling on the government to act.

Tayla Marshall, 24, from Northamptonshire, is one of those who relies on pain relief to cope with her symptoms.

She has been through multiple operations and two chemically-induced menopauses and she is now addicted to strong opioid medication.

"I worry every day about my opioid intake. I take 50ml of morphine sulfate, Fentanyl patches, Naproxen and 30mg of amitriptyline and although I'm not addicted in my mind, my body is physically dependant on this now.

"If I went a day without it, I would start to experience nasty withdrawal symptoms."

Because her condition is so severe, Tayla is considering having a hysterectomy when she's 30.

"I have six years to try for a family," she said.

"But my last relationship ended due to the impact of endometriosis. I wasn't able to be intimate with my partner very often, unless I was dosed up on medication.

"I am also in a position where I have reduced chances of falling pregnant naturally and carrying a baby.

"I have sort of managed to get my head around the idea of not having children but it breaks my heart every day."


What is endometriosis?

It is where tissue like that in the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body - often around the reproductive organs, bowel and bladder.

Like the womb lining, the tissue builds up and bleeds every month, but with no way to escape the body, the blood is trapped, leading to inflammation, pain and formation of scar tissue.

For some women there are no symptoms, but for others it is debilitating and can cause• chronic pelvic pain, painful sex, painful bowel and bladder movements, fatigue and difficulties getting pregnant.

There is no cure, but treatments can reduce symptoms.

They include hormone treatment, pain relief and surgery - including hysterectomy.

In the UK it takes an average of 7.5 years to be diagnosed.

Emma Cox, CEO of the charity Endometriosis UK, which helped gather the women's testimonies, said: "It cannot be overstated the devastating impact this condition is clearly having on people's physical and mental health.

"Without investment in research, a reduction in diagnosis time - which averages at a shocking 7.5 years - and better access to pain management, women will continue to face huge barriers in accessing the right treatment at the right time."

Some women choose to undergo a hysterectomy and early menopause in a bid to stop their symptoms.

Michelle Middleton, 42, from West Yorkshire, recently underwent the operation to remove her ovaries, womb, fallopian tubes and cervix.

She says it is her last hope: "I just want rid of everything," she said.

But she added: "The risk is that I'm no better and that there's damage and it gets worse but you have to have hope."

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
×