In 2011, endometriosis cost me my career at the age of just 39. I suffered excruciatingly painful periods and sex for years before I was finally diagnosed with severe endometriosis at the age of 33. By then, my bowel and bladder were badly diseased from endometriosis. I had a series of major surgeries and lost the lower part of my bowel and a lot of my bladder.

Late diagnosis left me unemployable and infertile from a common, yet unheard of disease that affects 1 in 10 women. It is as common as diabetes in women. My symptoms started at the age of 11, but I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 33. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Endometriosis UK calls for the Government to create a National Strategy for this long term condition. This will set quality standards for endometriosis care. It will set out a clear clinical pathway for patients who have endometriosis.

The National Strategy will reduce diagnosis time, raise awareness of the condition and improve the quality of services. It will promote a multi-disciplinary approach, support patients to take an active part in their care and develop an evidence base to improve outcomes. 

Currently, the average time to diagnosis is 7 years. This is #TooLong and constitutes a huge injustice for women and girls across the country. Women are suffering right now with nowhere to turn. It is simply unacceptable.

Please sign this petition to call on the government to take endometriosis seriously. Women deserve a National Strategy for endometriosis.

Thank you

Carol Pearson