The Issue

We lost a dear family member, Nicola Thyne, to a tragedy that should never have happened.

Nicola died by suicide in January 2024 after living for many years with endometriosis and chronic pain. Her planned operation was cancelled the week before she ended her life. 

We are sharing her story not to place blame on individuals, but to call for system-wide change in how women’s health is understood, recognised, and treated.

Across the UK, women continue to face:

delayed diagnosis

symptoms being dismissed or normalised
fragmented care
poor understanding of chronic pain, hormonal and reproductive conditions
a lack of compassionate, informed support

This is not rare.

This is not acceptable.

And this is not just about one condition.

Women living with endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, PMDD, perimenopause, menopause, and other complex health conditions are too often left unheard and unsupported.

What We Are Calling For

We are calling for mandatory, standardised women’s health training for healthcare professionals, with a specific focus on conditions that disproportionately affect women.

This training should include:

menstrual health, reproductive and hormonal conditions, chronic pain, mental health, the emotional and psychological impact of living with long-term women’s health conditions

It should be:

evidence-based
regularly updated
implemented consistently
supported by appropriate regulatory and professional bodies

Why This Matters

Nicola’s story is, tragically, not unique.

Too many women are still experiencing delayed diagnosis, dismissal, and avoidable suffering because women’s health has not been prioritised enough across education, training, and care systems.

By signing this petition, you are helping to call for meaningful change — so that women’s health is taken seriously, recognised earlier, and treated with the urgency and compassion it deserves.

Important Clarification

This petition calls for system-level learning and improvement.

It does not seek to blame individual clinicians or services.

The term “medical misogyny” is used here to describe systemic gender bias in healthcare — where women’s symptoms, pain, and health concerns have too often been minimised, misunderstood, or under-prioritised.

Evidence Context

This petition supports the direction of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan, which recognises ongoing inequalities in women’s healthcare, including delayed diagnosis, dismissal, and gaps in training and awareness.

National evidence has also shown:

many women feel unheard by healthcare professionals
reproductive health symptoms are often normalised or dismissed
stronger education and training in women’s health is still needed

By signing this petition, you are honouring Nicola’s memory and helping to push for a healthcare system where women are listened to, believed, and better supported.

Please visit our website to read Nicola’s story:

🌸 www.nicolas-supporting-women.com

Thank you for your support

Nicola’s