Endometriosis Awareness Week 2011!
7 – 13th March
This Awareness Week marks the launch of our Bring It Down! campaign.
We recently surveyed 3,000 women with endometriosis and found that the time it takes to get diagnosed is still too long. We want to Bring Down the diagnosis time and have developed 3 key points to make this happen:
1) Raise public awareness of endometriosis
Our campaign will begin bright and early on the 2nd March with the results of our survey being released on ITV’s Daybreak. With viewing figures averaging around 800,000, we’re extremely pleased and excited that endometriosis will be featured on the show. |
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We’re expecting to get coverage in other areas of the press after the results of our survey are released on ITV, so we’ve got lots of case studies at the ready! Already this year, endometriosis has been featured in Glamour, Healthy, OTC, Take a Break, The Irish Independent, and various local press.
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We’ll start a viral campaign during the week by sending out our e-postcard (pictured). The postcard is aimed at women who are experiencing symptoms, but believe it’s ‘normal’ to be in so much pain every month and are suffering in silence. Can you help us reach these women by forwarding on the e-postcard to everyone you know? Add yourself to our mailing list to receive the e-postcard.
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There is a lot more you can do to help us this Awareness Week... find out more here
2) Working with GPs to increase their suspicion of endometriosis
The symptoms of endometriosis are similar to those of many other conditions, making it an extremely difficult condition to diagnose or even suspect. On top of this, the symptoms can vary hugely from woman to woman; while some may experience painful and heavy periods, others may have unproblematic periods but suffer solely with bowel problems.
We plan to work closely with GP organisations during and following on from Awareness Week to come up with a way to tackle these difficulties, so that endometriosis will be suspected sooner when a woman presents with symptoms.
3) More research into finding a better way to diagnose endometriosis
The only way to definitely diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopy. This is an invasive surgical procedure that requires general anaesthetic and a recovery time of at least one week. Because of this, attempting to manage a woman’s symptoms or testing or for other potential causes before investigating endometriosis is a common route to follow in order to avoid unnecessary surgery.
An easier way to diagnose endometriosis would therefore contribute massively to reducing the average diagnosis time of the condition.
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During and following on from Awareness Week, we will be lobbying the Government and others to request that more funding is given to research into finding a better way to diagnose endometriosis. |
HELP US RAISE AWARENESS!
Endometriosis UK is only staffed by three people, so we need you help to spread awareness. Click here for some simple but effective ideas for what you can do
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