Women in pain told to ‘suck it up’, MPs report
House of Commons committee investigation finds that women are left in pain for years because of widespread ‘medical misogyny’
An investigation by the Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons has concluded that, while painful conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding are ‘highly prevalent’ in the UK, symptoms are often dismissed or normalised. Access to treatment for such conditions can take years, leaving women and girls to endure considerable pain. This can in turn impact all aspects of daily life, all while the health condition gets worse.
Photo by Noah Buscher
The result of this, says the report, is that many women and girls miss out on education, career opportunities and relationships, and their fertility is adversely affected. Many resort to costly, private alternatives to the NHS.
- Read the full report: Women’s reproductive health conditions
Much of the evidence received by the inquiry is shocking to read. Prevailing attitudes are evident in an anonymous submission cited by the report as an example:
‘As a young girl, I never learnt anything about endometriosis or other gynaecological conditions in school. At home, I was told by my own mother that periods are not a disease and therefore I should not be in bed and I should not be complaining. I now know that endometriosis runs in families and therefore the symptoms, such as period pain, abdominal discomfort, digestive issues and heavy bleeding are commonly dismissed and normalized by others around us. “You have painful periods? So what? I have painful periods too.”’
Evidence also came from well-known figures such as Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and BBC presenter Naga Munchetty. Ms Pattison was told by doctors that her frequent, debilitating symptoms were simply premenstrual syndrome and that ‘Every other woman in the the world is dealing with this’. She was eventually diagnosed with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), having learned about the condition online.
In October this year, Ms Munchetty told the inquiry that she had undergone an ‘infuriating’ process when diagnosed with adenomyosis – a condition that affects the woman. Despite having suffered a range of debilitating symptoms since her teens, she felt doctors had effectively told her to ‘suck it up’.
The report blames a prevailing ‘medical misogyny’ for the poor awareness of such commonly occurring conditions, as well as lack of education and pervasive stigma. It concludes with 51 specific recommendations on how to address these shortcomings. These cover education and awareness, publicly available information, access to support and treatment, the pain caused by investigative procedures, the effects of such conditions and treatment on mental health, waiting lists, period poverty, workplace support, violence against women and girls, medical training and standards, the fragmented commissioning system across health services, research, and funding.
Basically, a lot more needs to be done in lots of different areas to avert widespread, needless suffering.
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