Whether you have taken on a fundraiser, raised awareness in your workplace, shared your story, or taken action by emailing your MP, every action will make a huge difference. Thank you in advance for all you do to help us drive change.
A look back on week one
On the 1st March, we launched our new campaign ‘Endometriosis Doesn’t Wait’ alongside new data that shows diagnosis times are getting worse.
Endometriosis doesn’t wait whilst you're trying to get a diagnosis or waiting for care.
It doesn't wait for your career. Or your education. Or your social life, relationships.
The Government can't afford to wait any longer either.
It has never been a more critical time to join us in calling for change. The average time to get a diagnosis in the UK is now 9 years and 4 months, up from 8 years in 2020. For ethnically diverse communities, diagnosis takes even longer, an indefensible 11 years on average.
The state of endometriosis care in the UK is heartbreaking. The NHS is simply not set up to adequately support the 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth with endometriosis in the UK. For too long, patients have been continuously overlooked by healthcare systems that are failing to meet the demand of patients. It's time that changed.
This Action Month, and of course beyond this month, we are calling on Governments to take urgent action. You can read about the research here.
Taking our fight to Parliaments
During the first week of Action Month, we met over 100 parliamentarians as we launched our diagnosis campaign in Wales, Scotland and Westminster. This is thanks to the hundreds of you who lobbied your parliamentarians ahead of the events and asked them to come along – a number of those who attended the event said they did so because they had heard from you, their constituents, about why these events matter.
We had some great conversations with parliamentarians who share our commitment to reducing diagnosis times and look forward to continuing these relationships to advocate for change over the coming months and years.
Our CEO, Emma Cox, also attended a prestigious International Women’s Day event at 10 Downing Street, where she questioned the Prime Minister Keir Starmer on what he is doing to improve care for the 1 in 10 with endometriosis. We were also delighted to join a team of film makers to meet the Minister for Business and Trade to discuss how we can improve support for those with endometriosis at work.
Next stop is Northern Ireland!
Outreach Talks
Alongside our work in parliaments, we’ve also been raising awareness at universities and workplaces during the first week of Action Month. Through campus stalls, student conversations and our workplace “Lunch and Learn” sessions, we’ve been able to reach people in places where understanding endometriosis can make a real difference. This outreach has helped people understand what endometriosis is, open up conversations about menstrual health and foster a supportive environment for those with endometriosis in the workplace.
We’re grateful to everyone who has helped make these sessions and stalls possible - from volunteers and student groups, to the employers who have welcomed us into their workplaces and support greater awareness and understanding of endometriosis.
Volunteer Engagement
Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who have taken part in local events - from information stands to local parliamentary events - we're so grateful for everything you're doing to get the word out! Don't forget if you're involved in a local event, do keep us posted by emailing information and photos to admin@endometriosis-uk.org.
Fundraising
A huge thank you to our 330+ supporters who are raising much-needed awareness and vital funds this Endometriosis Action Month. Every penny raised will be going a long way in helping us continue our work, and we're looking forward to seeing all the wonderful ways you've chosen to make a difference for the community.
Join us in calling for change
It’s not too late to take action and ask your parliamentarians to support our campaign. Take action today by lobbying your local representatives.
We also want to take this time to acknowledge that the month can be overwhelming, and that seeing personal stories and statistics can be a difficult reminder that this is a condition you live with every day – not just in March. Please do take the time to look after yourself this month – that could be switching off from social media, calling our support line if you’re in need of a friendly ear, or taking some time out to do something you enjoy.
