A new women's health strategy for England offers hope to people suffering with a debilitating condition many don't know they have, but a charity warned there are still "worrying gaps" in relation to the disease.
The government's strategy, published on Wednesday, July 20, aims to reduce gender inequality in healthcare and includes commitments to train new doctors in women's health and to update guidance for treating "female-specific health conditions like endometriosis". This chronic pain condition affects roughly one in 10 women, and some trans men and non-binary people. But a lack of research, funding and credibility given to women's health means little is known about what causes it, many people with the condition struggle to get a diagnosis, and treatment options are limited.
Rozie Corbett, head of development at the Endometriosis UK charity, said: "The Women's Health Strategy is long awaited and much needed for the endometriosis community, and comes at a key time when gynaecological waiting times are soaring and diagnosis time for endometriosis is an unacceptable 8 years – a statistic that hasn't improved in a decade. We are glad that those with endometriosis are finally being recognised.
