That’s according to a survey of more than 13,500 women living with the illness, as conducted by the BBC and Endometriosis UK. Other concerning findings to come out of it? “Most” participants relied heavily on addictive painkillers and felt endo had negatively impacted their career, sex life, education and mental health.
“This shocking new research is a stark reminder that both society and the NHS need to wake up and accept that endometriosis is a chronic condition that cannot be brushed under the carpet,” Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK said of the research.
"Without investment in research, a reduction in diagnosis time - which averages at a shocking 7.5 years - and better access to pain management, women will continue to face huge barriers in accessing the right treatment at the right time."
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"Without investment in research, a reduction in diagnosis time - which averages at a shocking 7.5 years - and better access to pain management, women will continue to face huge barriers in accessing the right treatment at the right time."
“The potentially devastating impact this condition can have on people’s physical and mental health cannot be overstated,” she added.
To date, the research is the largest study to look into the ‘silent disease,’ which affects around 1 in 10 females worldwide. In Australia alone, endometriosis set us back $17.4 billion between 2017-18 in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.
In response to the findings, the UK government is expected to launch an inquiry into women’s experiences of endometriosis.
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