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
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
×