This is an important moment.
For too long, women and those assigned female at birth with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions have faced delays, dismissal and a lack of joined-up care. In Scotland, the average time to get an endometriosis diagnosis is now 10 years and 2 months - the longest of the four UK nations! That means more than a decade of pain, uncertainty and too often being told that severe symptoms are “normal”.
But there is also a real opportunity for change.
Maree Todd MSP has been appointed Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs. The Scottish Government has also committed to implementing the National Plan for Gynaecology and recognising endometriosis as a chronic, long-term condition.
We want to make sure improving endometriosis and menstrual health care is high on the Minister’s agenda from the very start.
That is where you come in.
Please will you take two minutes to ask your MSPs to write to Maree Todd and urge her to prioritise endometriosis and wider menstrual health in Scotland?
Your message will help show MSPs, many of whom are new to the Scottish Parliament, that this issue matters deeply to those across Scotland.
We are asking MSPs to call for:
- clear action to reduce endometriosis diagnosis times to one year or less by 2030
- implementation of the National Plan for Gynaecology in a way that reduces waits for those with suspected or confirmed endometriosis
- better training for healthcare professionals across primary care, gynaecology and wider community services
- clearer referral pathways and better access to specialist care
- those with lived experience to be involved in shaping delivery
- improved support in education and the workplace, including through Fair Work
Every message helps make this issue harder to ignore.
Take action now: https://secure.endometriosis-uk.org/page/195084/action/1
Thank you, as ever, for standing with everyone affected by endometriosis and menstrual health conditions.
