Tag: period pain

New data reveals we may be moving backwards on endometriosis diagnosis and care. Here’s what the 2026 report shows—and why women are still being dismissed. The wait is over, but for millions, the wait continues. The 2026 Endometriosis UK Report has officially been released, and the findings are a sobering wake-up call for healthcare providers and policymakers alike. At a time when medical technology is advancing faster than ever, the reality of living with endometriosis in the UK is becoming increasingly difficult. Instead of closing the gap, the data shows we are drifting further away from timely care. Why This Report Matters Endometriosis UK’s 2026 State of Endometriosis Care in the UK report offers an invaluable look at the lived experience using the data from 3,075 respondents who had received a diagnosis of endometriosis from a healthcare practitioner in the UK since 2015. It provides one of the most comprehensive insights into diagnosis times, standards of care, and real-world patient outcomes ever recorded. As the UK’s leading charity for the condition, Endometriosis UK serves as the primary advocate for the “1 in 10.” They provide vital support services, reliable information, and a community for those suffering, while campaigning relentlessly for government policy changes and better NHS clinical standards. Their goal is simple but ambitious: to ensure that everyone with endometriosis has the right to a timely diagnosis and high-quality treatment. The Numbers: A Downward Spiral The most startling takeaway from the 2025-2026 data is the “Trend Line of Delay.” We are no longer just stagnant; we are moving in the wrong direction. The Diagnosis Gap The average time from the first GP visit to an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK overall has climbed to 9 years and 4 months. To put that in perspective: This isn’t just a statistic; it represents nearly a decade of someone’s life spent in limbo. For ethnically diverse communities, the situation is even more dire, with an average diagnosis time of 11 years – nearly two years longer than the national average. The Postcode Lottery Where you live in the UK significantly impacts how quickly you receive an endometriosis treatment plan. What Does Endometriosis Feel Like? Endometriosis is a chronic, often debilitating condition affecting 1 in 10 women (1.5 million in the UK and 176 million worldwide). It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere. These endometrial-like lesions are most commonly found in the ovaries and fallopian tubes, but can also grow on the vagina, cervix, bowel, bladder, and other pelvic organs. Rarely, they may appear in other parts of the body. Common symptoms of endometriosis include: Chronic pelvic pain and severe menstrual cramps, heavy periods, deep pain during or after sex, pain when urinating or defecating and infertility. And secondary symptoms like bloating (often called “endo belly”), severe fatigue and mental health struggles (98% of patients report an impact on their mental wellbeing). It can also sometimes cause complications with fertility. It is frequently accompanied by adenomyosis, where this tissue grows into the muscular uterine wall. The 2026 report found that 32% of respondents had been diagnosed with both. Up to 40% of those with endometriosis are estimated to also have adenomyosis. If doctors only treat one, symptoms of endometriosis like pelvic pain and heavy periods often persist. The Culture of Dismissal ” GP told me pain was normal for women. I was told it was all in my head. I was told I was too young to have health problems. I was told it was psychosomatic and there was nothing there.” Perhaps the most heartbreaking stat is that 83% of patients were told by healthcare professionals that they were “making a fuss about nothing” or that their symptoms were “normal.” 50% went to A&E only to be sent home. 80% were put on the contraceptive pill before any investigation, effectively masking the signs of endometriosis and delaying surgical diagnosis. “I felt over the moon that I finally had a diagnosis so that teachers, family, and just anyone would actually take me seriously now.” For many, the dismissals were gendered or only corrected when a man was present: “Doctors only really took my pain seriously when I mentioned it having an impact on my male partner’s life… they only really listened when I started bringing him along to appointments.” The impact on living with endometriosis is not just physical; 98% say their mental health has suffered. One 21-year-old respondent shared: “My mental health was genuinely so bad, the only way out I thought was suicide… if my mum hadn’t paid privately, I don’t know if I’d have been able to live like this anymore.” The Gynaecology Waiting List: A Systemic Bottleneck Even if you clear the first hurdle of being taken seriously by a GP, the path to endometriosis treatment remains blocked by a massive, systemic backlog. For many, the “referral” is just the start of a new, years-long wait. “I was referred in April 2024 with a 67-week wait. By November 2025, I was still waiting, and the average wait had risen to 114 weeks.” — Patient Quote At the start of 2026, roughly 750,000 women are waiting for gynaecology care in England. Gynaecology has now become the largest specialty for those on waiting lists aged 18–64. The statistics are a stark reminder of the “secondary wait”: 32% of patients are waiting over a year after being referred to secondary care. 9% are waiting over two years after their referral. Despite the 10-Year Women’s Health Strategy, the reality on the ground hasn’t shifted. The NICE Guideline on Endometriosis (updated in 2024) and the Quality Standard (2018) were designed to ensure all healthcare practitioners suspect endometriosis immediately upon presentation. However, these standards have not been fully implemented in any UK nation. Without mandatory enforcement or a clear audit process, these guidelines remain “suggestions” rather than the rule. This lack of accountability is a primary driver of the worsening 9-year diagnosis time. This means that even with a supportive GP, […]

Uterine fibroids are benign, non-cancerous growths that develop in and around the uterus. They are incredibly common, with approximately two in three women developing a fibroid at some point in their lifetime. While many fibroids cause no issues, they are a major cause of debilitating heavy periods and pelvic pain. Understanding what drives their growth – primarily the female sex hormones – is the key to diagnosis and effective symptom management. This article outlines everything you need to know about Fibroid. We’ll also explain how our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test can uncover the root causes of your symptoms and step towards a quicker diagnosis.  Quick Facts: What are Fibroids and Where Do They Grow? Fibroids can vary dramatically in size, from as small as a pea to as large as a melon, and you may have one or multiple growths. Their classification depends on their location within the uterine wall: Most people who develop fibroids are completely asymptomatic. However, about one in three will experience noticeable symptoms that impact their quality of life. The Main Symptoms of Fibroids The most common symptoms are related to the fibroid interfering with the uterus’s function or simply taking up space: 💡 Think you have one or more of these symptoms? Don’t ignore them!  Heavy periods can lead to anaemia and severe fatigue. If you are regularly soaking through a period product every 1–2 hours, it’s time to investigate the cause. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to investigate your symptoms and the underlying hormonal factors. Hormonal Causes and Risk Factors The exact trigger for fibroid development is unknown, but they are highly sensitive to reproductive hormones, making it clear that they are a hormonally driven condition. Oestrogen and Progesterone Dependence Fibroids are known to grow in response to both oestrogen and progesterone throughout the reproductive years. The crucial link here is that the growth of fibroids is directly related to the hormonal environment of your body. Risk Factors and Ethnicity Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of developing fibroids: Diagnosis and Management If you are suffering from heavy or painful periods, or any of the above symptoms, it is essential to seek medical advice. Diagnosis A definitive diagnosis relies on two steps: Hormone Testing’s Role Testing a full panel of personalised hormones provides essential diagnostic data needed to find the root cause, tailored to your symptoms and concerns. Treatment Options Treatment depends entirely on the size, location, and severity of your symptoms, as well as your family-forming goals (NHS, 2022). If you are struggling with your symptoms, you deserve a personalised care plan that explores all available options. 💡 Find out what your hormones are telling you Don’t suffer through heavy or painful periods. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to investigate the underlying hormonal factors and screen for complications like anaemia. References

Absenteeism, presenteeism, and stigma in the workplace. The profound impact of menstruation on workplace productivity and attendance is often overlooked, but period, PMS and symptoms associated can be extremely debilitating. Every day, millions of people show up to work and perform at the highest level while silently navigating the complexities of reproductive health. Many might try to manage it with home remedies and over the counter medication; for up to 1 in 10 women, it can cause severe debilitating chronic pain, impacting their daily routine due to a condition called endometriosis. “I never did say to work, that I was off because of period pain because I worked for years in a very male dominated banking environment…I felt there was an issue of stigma with saying I was off…I would have to invent reasons month after month, soldier on, dose yourself up and try and get through the days best you could. Then collapse when you go home.” – (Gender Health Gap Report, 2024) The Data: How can employers support this? 1. Help people understand the basics of their reproductive health. A supportive workplace can improve employee productivity and loyalty, reduce absenteeism and improve DE&I. Here are a few recommendations on how you can support your employees better through inclusive healthcare. Many women grew up believing period pain was a normal part of life. Social and cultural taboos combined with a lack of education on menstrual health could explain why someone might not discuss their period-related symptoms or ignore them altogether. Employers can help break this cycle of misinformation by referring employees to resources to understand their reproductive health better. Additionally, organising lunch & learns and workshops can be a stepping stone to open dialogue and normalise conversations around period pain in the workplace. 2. Establish support in the workplace. Experiencing pain in the workplace is challenging for employees. Providing flexible working hours, rotas and arrangements such as a quiet room, period products, heat packs, or modified workstations can support employees with the time they might need to prioritise their health. Research on menstrual workplace policies from Monash University found that flexible policies based on the individual employee’s needs were more effective than a blanket period leave. Beyond policies, ensuring that managers are well-trained to talk about reproductive health and support employees through their struggles will also help create a supportive environment at work. 3. Find the right partner to support reproductive health policies. Taking the first steps in making the workplace more period-friendly is a big task, which is why it is important to find a reputable expert provider who can support employers in educating their workforce, instating progressive policies and providing solutions to employees’ worries around their reproductive health. Hertility Health is shaping the future of reproductive health by giving women the ability to understand and manage their hormone health from menstruation to menopause. We believe in a proactive approach to reproductive health – by detecting issues early, helps prevent issues later down the line. We deliver our world-class reproductive health benefits to many leading companies and improve access to reproductive healthcare and education. We provide in personalised plans – for you and your employees – and offer a range of corporate plans and coverage options to suit your needs, from educational workshops, to female health assessments and consultations with in-house experts. For early adopters that have existing fertility treatment benefits for employees, we help you protect your budget – our proactive hormone tests are a fraction of the clinic price and by identifying issues early we can prevent costly treatment. Where treatment is required, our blood tests are accepted by partner clinics and reduce time to treatment. We provide DE&I impact reports, so you can see the tangible impact on your workforce and your bottom line. To learn more about our Reproductive Health Education and Benefits for Employers, reach out to benefits@hertilityhealth.com or visit our website https://hertilityhealth.com/workplace