Maths teacher's blog adds up to a must read
“The same quiet tragedy: women enduring years of pain, only to be dismissed, doubted, and left behind."
Read Laura’s emotive and inspiring blog on living with endometriosis for a QUARTER OF A CENTURY – visit our BLOGS page.
It’s a tale of extraordinary fortitude too, as she details the days lost to pain, being prevented from advancing her career and even the friendships she lost.
We thank Laura from the bottom of our hearts for sharing her story and invite all endo warriors to do the same.
Because it promotes understanding and leaves others knowing they are not alone!
Mayor helps us break the chain of despair
Our founder Dr Anita Sharma went into the parlour to meet Rochdale Mayor Councillor Janet Emsley – and salute her
contribution to our charity and the endo community.
Along with her always welcome consort Ken, Cllr Emsley has attended several of our events on behalf of her borough.
And sharing time with our ambassadors and their families, seems to have ignited a real passion in her to fight endometriosis.
Said Cllr Emsley: “I came to your coffee morning on 28 March and listened to the sufferings of women getting a diagnosis. It is such a long exhausting and frustrating process, and their being told on numerous occasions to get on with life is simply not acceptable.”
The Mayor agreed that more work must be done to empower women and girls with knowledge and understanding of endometriosis. She understood that early intervention, proper diagnosis and better training for medical students were key.
Dr Sharma told her: “The lack of awareness of this painful debilitating condition combined with a taboo surrounding menstrual health, increases the suffering of patients.”
She also highlighted the schism in funding between men’s and women’s health.
“It is not a competition for who receives more health funding, but we have to say that men have won consistently. Let us be honest about what that under-investment has cost us: endometriosis alone affects around 1.5 million people in the UK, taking an average of nearly nine years and 4 months to diagnose and 11 years in the North. That is not a gap in the system, but a failure of the system of not taking women’s health as a priority.”
Dr Sharma says “I want the Government to commit to a new target to bring down the average endometriosis diagnosis time substantially, working towards one year or less by 2030. They should also put in place a proper awareness campaign and ensure that NICE guidelines are fully implemented across the primary care sector, with proper referral pathways in place and Quality And Outcome Framework (QOF) in all Gynaecological areas.”
Dr Sharma concluded: “The Government MUST also provide mental health support to these women. At the moment, this is practically non-existent.”
Time for an intimate chat
The Uni of Derby is looking for endo warriors to talk frankly about the impact of the blight on their sex life.
Researchers rightly claim that the voices of those with the condition are not being heard, so this is your opportunity to change all of that and gain more awareness and understanding of what you are facing.
Please email
e.hooper4@unimailderby.ac.uk to find out how you can get involved in a project that has our full backing.
Derby isn’t the only Uni looking into endometriosis at present. A Sheffield student is pioneering a study into endo and sport, while Manchester’s work – funded by YOU – is progressing into better tools to cut the appalling ten year wait for a diagnosis.
We’ve long called for this kind of research to take place. And so let’s get involved in making the difference!
Thoughts on March of awareness
Our founder Dr Anita Sharma examines the pleasing rise in interest in endometriosis awareness over the last month – but questions, what happens next?
National TV coverage, mentions in Parliament, and even a BAFTA Award winning film have propelled our cause forward.
However, the waiting time for an endometriosis diagnosis has risen to a decade.
Read her thoughts on our BLOGS page. .
Find out what we're really about, on film
Click onto our brand new movie, detailing what Endometriosis Awareness North is all about Endometriosis Awareness North - YouTube
Featuring our treasured case study Courtney, it also gives medics a platform to call for quicker diagnosis of endometriosis.
With thanks to filmmakers Andrea Bertozzi and Pete Gibson Media.
Donate
We are registered with The Charity Commission. Our charity number is 1212676.
You can do your bit to research a cure to endo and support the one-in-ten women with the condition by going to our DONATE page.