探花直播鈥檚 health research shaped national and international clinical guidance on endometriosis and led to new training for healthcare professionals, improving care for the estimated 1.5 million women in the UK with the condition.听 It has also contributed to the introduction of mandatory menstrual education for 7.25 million pupils in England and to wider societal conversations about menstrual taboos.
Research Summary
Endometriosis, the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus, is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK. The chronic, incurable condition can cause severe pelvic pain; painful menstruation; dyspareunia and infertility. Within the UK, patients face an average delay of 8 years for a diagnosis. Menstruation misconceptions exacerbate the hidden nature of the condition.听
BCU research revealed how endometriosis dramatically shapes every aspect of women鈥檚 lives and how, for nearly two decades, women continue to face prolonged diagnostic delays and dismissal of their symptoms by healthcare professionals.
Research Background 鈥� evidencing the impact of endometriosis and delayed diagnosis
Professor Emeritus Elaine Denny鈥檚 was the first in the UK to evidence women鈥檚 experiences of prolonged diagnostic delay. 听It found that despite severe and debilitating pelvic pain, health practitioners often dismissed symptoms as typical menstrual pain.听
Her also captured how those with the condition live with uncertainty about their fertility and if their pain symptoms will ever improve, evidencing the need for improved patient-practitioner communication and information and support for women. It also highlighted the need for and appropriate endometriosis information and supports.
Dr Annalise Weckesser and Denny carried out research on听 experiences of听, evidencing how women 鈥渇eel desperate鈥� and are 鈥渨illing to try anything鈥� for symptom relief. It also evidenced how, nearly two decades on from Denny鈥檚 original research, women continue to report dismissal of their pain symptoms and prolonged diagnostic delay.听
Outcomes and impact 鈥� improving care and reducing stigma听
Denny鈥檚听 research informs the听, produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 听as well as on endometriosis management. Her work shaped guidance on the importance of believing women鈥檚 symptoms and providing information and support that meets the needs of a diversity of patients.
The Women鈥檚 Health APPG Inquiry, 鈥� extensively cited Denny鈥檚 work to call for improved training on endometriosis training for health practitioners. This led to the Royal College of General Practitioners and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists introducing new training modules to promote awareness of endometriosis symptoms and treatment amongst practitioners within and outside of the UK. 听
The APPG Inquiry, again drawing on Denny鈥檚 work, called for improved menstrual health education to enable girls and young women to better identify potential symptoms of endometriosis. This led to the Department for Education introducing mandatory menstruation education for 7.25 million pupils primary and secondary students in England.
Brook, the sexual health service and education charity for young people, and Plan International UK, the international children鈥檚 charity, commissioned Dr Weckesser and colleagues to create a series of evidence-based resources for the Let鈥檚 Talk. Period听initiative. These resources provide a 鈥榞o to guide鈥� for the menstrual health sector:
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BCU鈥檚 research shaped public conversations on endometriosis awareness and menstruation stigma. Research by Denny and Weckesser featured in multiple articles on endometriosis in high profile media outlets with large national and international readership, including The Independent, The New Statesmen, and The Daily Express.
