Endometriosis

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about endometriosis diagnosis and care. Endometriosis is a chronic and complex condition that affects one in 10 women. I am aware of the impact it can have to people’s lives and I sympathise profoundly with anyone who is affected.

Nearly as many women in the UK have endometriosis as have diabetes, yet the suffering associated with it is often private and unseen. A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Endometriosis finds that women affected wait an average of eight years for a diagnosis, despite more than half visiting their GP ten or more times with symptoms or presenting to A&E. For many women, this leads to prolonged pain and a progressed condition which is more difficult to treat, alongside the impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

National clinical guidelines on endometriosis were published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in September 2017. They aim to reduce diagnostic delays by highlighting the symptoms of endometriosis to doctors, such as pelvic pain, painful periods, and subfertility. But Endometriosis UK and others have highlighted notable gaps in the guidelines, including access to pain management – specifically non-pharmacological pain management, endometriosis outside the pelvic cavity such as thoracic endometriosis, and mental health support.

While the Opposition has pressed the Government to take steps to address these gaps, the Health Minister recently confirmed that NICE reviewed its guideline in late 2021, concluding that the evidence did not support consideration of endometriosis outside the pelvis. I recognise the disappointment that will be felt by many in our constituency and across the country at this decision. NICE is planning to review its clinical guidelines on endometriosis in 2022/23 and I hope it takes into consideration the concerns raised by Endometriosis UK.

More widely, the Department of Health and Social Care has given assurances that menstrual health and gynaecological conditions - including endometriosis - will be a priority in the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy. The Strategy includes welcome proposals, but Ministers first promised to publish this last year.

Improving equal access to effective healthcare and support for women must be priority. It is vital the Government closes the gender health gap and does everything possible to improve diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours Sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP