To start Endometriosis awareness month, the Endometriosis & PCOS Network hosted their first ever Endometriosis & PCOS Awareness Event on Friday 1^st March, which was attended by 80 UoM colleagues both in person and online!

The hybrid session saw talks delivered by Professor Kay Marshall, Dr Debbie Fischer and Dr Harriet Lamb who told us more about their fascinating research on Endometriosis and potential future treatments. Endometriosis UK delivered a workshop on how to support colleagues with Endometriosis & PCOS at Work, and the event was finished by Policy Manager, Brooke Foulger, from People & OD who came to ask us about how UoM can create more Endo & PCOS friendly policies at UoM. With 1 in 6 people with endometriosis reported to have quit their jobs due to the condition and inflexible work practices, this is a much needed conversation in the workplace.

What is Endometriosis? *

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. These cells also respond to the menstrual cycle each month and therefore bleed. However, as there is no way for this blood to leave the body, the result is inflammation, severe pain and the formation of scar tissue that can in some cases attach itself to other organs. The World Health Organization reported in 2023 that Endometriosis is thought to affect approximately 190 million women, girls, and people assigned female at birth globally, and is thought to affect 1 in 10 in the UK. Currently, diagnosis of endometriosis is only possible through surgery and can take on average 8 years. It is as common as diabetes, but relatively little is known about the condition. Its effects can be absolutely debilitating – speaking from my own experience it took 12 years to get an official diagnosis, by which time my Endometriosis has progressed to ‘Stage 4’ meaning that is attached to other organs such as my bowel and bladder. There is currently no known cause or cure.

What is PCOS? *

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine condition that is thought to affect 1 in every 8 people assigned female at birth in the UK. Symptoms include irregular periods, changes to hair growth which can negatively impact self esteem, fatigue, infertility, and many more symptoms that can vary between individuals. Such as with Endometriosis, there is currently no known cause or cure but it’s impact can be devastating. A really helpful resource for finding out more about PCOS is the charity Verity – The UK PCOS Charity – Verity PCOS UK (verity-pcos.org.uk).

What support can be put in place?

The event outlined some really helpful suggestions for how to support colleagues with Endometriosis and/or PCOS at work, such as offering flexible work from home policies if possible, ensuring easy access to toilets and comfortable spaces, in addition to ensuring things like uniforms (if necessary) aren’t restrictive or light in colour. As with all health conditions,  employers also need to go beyond practical adjustments and ensure an open culture which encourages awareness and support. The difference it can make speaking to a colleague or manager who has heard of and learnt about Endometriosis and PCOS can be immeasurable. Fatigue and the mental health impacts can be just as debilitating as the physical condition itself, and we cannot take a one size fits all approach. Endometriosis and PCOS can impact individuals differently, and with the particularly stark statistic that 1 in 6 with Endometriosis have needed to leave their jobs, this is a conversation that must be had and it’s fantastic to see that UoM have been so supportive of us bringing Endometriosis and PCOS to their attention.

We have a staff network on teams that everyone is welcome to join! You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis of Endometriosis or PCOS to be part of the group, we know how hard it can be to get one, this is just a space where you can get some information and support from people who have similar experiences. There are also people in the group who have joined as they want to learn more about Endo and/or PCOS to support someone close to them who has it. If you would like to join, please contact lauren.bramley@manchester.ac.uk

*I have written these definitions to the best of my knowledge using trusted sources following the event, but I am not a medical professional or an expert in this area. It is really important that we don’t spread misinformation about these conditions, so if you are an expert in this area and notice any inaccuracies please do let me know so that we can update this blog post.

References:

Verity – The UK PCOS Charity – Verity PCOS UK (verity-pcos.org.uk)

What is endometriosis? | Endometriosis UK (endometriosis-uk.org)

Lauren Bramley – Postgraduate Research Student (Sociology): Graduate Outcomes for WP Students Market and Student Insight Assistant in the Market and Student Insight Team

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