IVF Is Progress—Now Let’s Fix Endometriosis Care
📢 Petition Update
Last week, I was invited onto Newstalk Lunchtime Live to discuss the inclusion of endometriosis patients in the public IVF programme.
During the interview, I welcomed this progress, but I also stressed that we need properly trained endometriosis specialists and multidisciplinary teams in place first. IVF is not a treatment for endometriosis, and patients deserve expert assessment and the right care before entering fertility treatment where clinically appropriate.
I also spoke about the relationship requirement within the scheme. As a survivor of sexual and gender-based violence, I shared why many women choose not to be in a relationship but still dream of becoming parents. They should not be excluded from accessing fertility treatment because of their relationship status.
I also shared my own fertility journey. When I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I was fortunate that I had already had my son. However, I later experienced secondary infertility, something that was never explored or explained to me as a potential consequence of endometriosis. In 2007, I miscarried, and one of the questions I was repeatedly asked was, “Are you married?” In 2016, at just 37 years of age, I lost my fertility when I underwent a hysterectomy. The psychological impact of that loss was never acknowledged, and I was never offered counselling or psychological support.
Last week, we also learned that the NHS will begin introducing new testing to help diagnose endometriosis. This is a welcome step forward, but diagnosis is only one part of the journey. These tests do not replace the specialist assessment, imaging and, where appropriate, surgical evaluation needed to understand the extent and location of the disease and plan the most appropriate treatment.
Before our own Department of Health rushes ahead, we must first strengthen the framework for endometriosis care in Ireland.
We need specialist multidisciplinary teams with extensive experience in endometriosis who can assess patients holistically and, where clinically appropriate, identify, locate and excise the disease.
We also need greater access to holistic supportive therapies alongside medical care. Services such as lymphatic drainage, acupuncture, reflexology, reiki and sound therapy have helped many women manage the physical and emotional impact of chronic illness. Patients should have equitable access to evidence-informed supportive therapies as part of a truly holistic model of care, alongside specialist medical treatment.
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Sinn Féin motion calling for an Endometriosis Centre of Excellence, which was not supported by a majority of TDs, the need for a National Endometriosis Inquiry has never been greater. We need to understand the impact that years of delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment and inadequate specialist services have had on thousands of women across Ireland.
For me personally, my case is now considered too complex for the specialist I was referred to in London. I have already had to fund my own medical treatment abroad through the support of crowdfunding. The only reimbursement I received was for my flights to London. My accommodation and travel costs within London were not covered, and my treatment in Romania was not approved in time under the Treatment Abroad Scheme/Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. I continue to search for answers. No woman should have to rely on public fundraising or navigate multiple healthcare systems simply to access the specialist care she needs.
This campaign has always been about ensuring that every woman has access to timely diagnosis, specialist treatment, compassionate support and the opportunity to make informed decisions about her health and fertility.
🎧 Listen back to the interview here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aXfv29Glhogml3bLaqQX5?si=E8RP-CLtQFi-Y3i9zVupbA&utm_source=copy-link
✍️ Please sign and share our petition:
https://www.change.org/p/national-endometriosis-inquiry-ireland
Every signature strengthens our voice. Together, we can continue pushing for a National Endometriosis Inquiry and the specialist, compassionate care that every patient in Ireland deserves.