2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Fiona Callingham)
The NHS has highlighted three principal symptoms of endometriosis, a greatly underdiagnosed condition in the UK that affects roughly one in 10 women. Findings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that within the period between 2011 and 2021, only around two percent of women of reproductive age actually received an endometriosis diagnosis. Nonetheless, health experts maintain that the chronic condition actually impacts 10 percent of women, equating to approximately 176 million individuals globally.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises endometriosis as a condition where tissue akin to the uterine lining is found outside the uterus, causing significant pelvic pain and hindering conception. "It can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant," WHO explains. Moreover, the same tissue may lead to inflammation and scar formation within the pelvic area and occasionally in other body regions.
ONS data also indicated that the average age at which endometriosis is diagnosed stands at 35, often several years after initial symptoms emerge. "Using 2011 Census data linked to hospital records from 2011 to 2021, we estimate the prevalence of an endometriosis diagnosis to be approximately two percent of reproductive age women in our linked population, with an average age at diagnosis of 35 years; this is likely an underestimate of the true prevalence, as many women will not have a diagnosis," the ONS remarked. The NHS has issued a warning that some symptoms of endometriosis can occur around the time of your period.
These include severe period pain that prevents you from carrying out your usual activities, heavy periods where you need to change your sanitary products every one to two hours, or bleeding through to your clothes, and experiencing pain when you go to the toilet. However, these are not the only potential signs. Other symptoms can occur at any time during your menstrual cycle, such as lower abdominal and back pain, pain during or after sex, and extreme fatigue.
The NHS further adds: "You may also have difficulty getting pregnant and experience low mood or anxiety. Endometriosis is commonly diagnosed in women and girls, from when their periods start (puberty) through to menopause. It can affect anyone who has periods.
" If you suspect you might have endometriosis, if your symptoms are impacting your daily life, work and relationships, or if you've had treatment from a GP but your symptoms haven't improved or have worsened, you should see your GP. But diagnosing endometriosis can take time, the NHS warns. You might need several different tests to determine if you have it, as its symptoms can be similar to other conditions like adenomyosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.
In light of the ONS statistics, Emma Cox, the CEO of Endometriosis UK , expressed hopes that the new insights will prompt the Government to consider the severity of endometriosis more earnestly. "We're delighted that the Government and the ONS has recognised the significance of endometriosis, and decided to commission high-quality statistical evidence to ensure a better understanding of the disease's impacts, including how it impacts different communities," she said. "The relative lack of both data and research into endometriosis has historically made it easy to overlook or fail to grasp the seriousness of the disease - without strong evidence, decision-makers in healthcare and other sectors have either not recognised the scale of the issue, or not been able to argue for investments to support those with endometriosis.
"That is now changing. Today's initial report from the ONS, combined with other recent research such as the NHS Confederation's report on the economic benefits of investing in women's health services and other reports, are building up a picture that will be impossible to ignore." An imminent ONS publication scheduled for January is anticipated to provide additional data, including the impact of endometriosis on employment and jobs.
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