Research shows 2 in 5 Women Say the Disease Affects Their Work
The MSP for Stirling and a constituent from Fallin have both spoken out about how endometriosis has affected their work for endometriosis awareness month (March).
A cross-party enquiry in 2020 found 55% of women take time off work often or very often due to endometriosis – which affects 1 in 10 women. The research also found 28% said they had to change or leave their job due to their endometriosis, while 38% had concerns about losing their job.
Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK. It causes chronic pain in the abdomen, fatigue and lack of energy, and it can sometimes lead to infertility. It can also result in depression, isolation and affect a woman’s ability to fulfil work and social commitments.
In Scotland, it takes an average of 8.5 years to be diagnosed with endometriosis but the Scottish Government are working towards bringing this down to 12 months by the end of this parliament.
Stacey Allan, a young woman from Fallin in Stirling, battled endometriosis from the age of 13.
In a bid to ease her pain, Stacey eventually had a hysterectomy aged just 25. Now, age 34, Stacey still deals with regular and painful symptoms. She had hoped the hysterectomy would help but it hasn’t. She now has no cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries or uterus though she feels fortunate that she had children before the treatment.
Last year, Stacey was forced to close her hair salon in Doune temporarily because of the impact of endometriosis and other health conditions.
Stacey said: “My business means everything to me, it’s not only a workplace but also a second home. My customers have been in my life a very long time, they know every detail good and bad that has happened to me, as do I with them.
“Unfortunately, my illness has impacted my business at times due to days off and hospital admissions. But you know every time I’ve had to close, I’ve had the backbone and support of my customers sometimes more than I do my own family.
“There is days I used to cry all the way to work in the car in pain, wipe my tears put my work smile on, do my work, get I’m the car and cry all the way home. It’s tough
“It doesn’t surprise me that women feel uncomfortable or under pressure at their workplace, because it did take me a very long time to get to a place to be able to speak about my illness. No one knew what endometriosis was, to be honest I didn’t really know what it was – and I had it.
“Women losing their jobs due to endometriosis doesn’t surprise me. Unfortunately, the illness comes with a lot of sick days and without the correct support and knowledge, businesses won’t tolerate absence. It’s very sad. I’ve always said if I wasn’t my own boss it’s be sacked.
“The girls on my Endo Sisters Stirling facebook page have mentioned previously that it effects their work life. It’s a constant fear. Especially if they need surgery or extra hospital appointments.
“My daughter has missed so much school due to her bad periods, I’m noteworthy in understanding with the school which is great but still it shouldn’t be like this.
“Education should start at high-schools, in sex Education the word endometriosis should be mentioned alongside the period chat. From there on young women hopefully won’t have to wait or worry why they are suffering they will know already the tell-tale signs. I feel this is important.
“I just want to tell these women not to stress too much, better days are coming. If your boss or company are in disagreement, then educate them. Print off some knowledge sheets of our condition. Try do a fundraising day. Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed of your body. Pain is human.
“It makes me so sad in 2022 we still need to fight to get endometriosis heard and understood that it’s NOT ‘just a bad period’.
Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, said: “I have endured endometriosis since I was a student at University. I sought help for many years but the pain I experienced was generally dismissed as normal.
“The pain was that bad I would lose at least 1 to 2 days a month lying in my bed with pain, paracetamol didn’t touch the symptoms and unfortunately my doctor gave me nothing for it. This resulted in chronic pain and at times, misery.
“It certainly affected by ability to study as a young woman, and later affected me at work too. As my condition worsened, I ended up being absent from work for longer periods of time as the pain was unbearable. Fortunately, I had an empathetic employer who allowed working from home and this helped me to try and live with the symptoms and continue to work.”
“Tragically the fact remains that even when you are diagnosed, there is still no cure for endometriosis
“It begs the question – why is treatment for something that affects so many people still so lacking?
“We’ve seen positive steps from our Women’s Health Minister Maree Todd, in recent months which I welcome. Endometriosis Awareness Month certainly helps us beat the drum for this invisible illness. If we can indeed bring the diagnosis down to 12 months, this will make a huge difference to women like Stacey.
“Clearly much more is needed to tackle an illness that affects 1 in 10 women, with such devastating impacts on work life, home life and mental health. I am determined that we will see much more attention paid to Endometriosis in the coming years as a result of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan, with the hope of eventually finding a cure.”
