Research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows women who suffer with the condition are more likely to take on lower-paid jobs or quit working altogether.
For the first time, the ONS has analysed the impact endometriosis has on women’s ability to work in England and it’s safe to say the findings can be described as nothing sort of wretched.
To give context, endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the uterus and sometimes causing debilitating symptoms. These include severe period pains, pain during or after sex, difficulty getting pregnant, fatigue, spotting between periods and stomach problems.
Experts, who studied official medical and payroll data of more than 55,000 women, discovered among women aged between 25 and 54 in paid work, there was an average decrease of £56 per month in the four to five years post-diagnosis, compared with the two-year period before finding out about their condition.
What’s more, the figures also show the probability of being a paid employee ‘significantly decreased’ following an endometriosis diagnosis, going down by 2.7% four to five years after diagnosis.
With these findings in mind, Emma Cox, CEO of charity Endometriosis UK, is calling on the government to provide better support for women with the condition so they can continue to work.
‘This new research puts an important spotlight on the challenges faced by those with endometriosis at work and is a step towards enabling those with the disease to thrive in their careers,’ she said. ‘Those with endometriosis symptoms shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job, having to change careers or feeling restricted in the types of work they do.
‘As well as employers understanding endometriosis, we need the NHS to speed up diagnosis and access to treatments, and more research investment to further understand the impact of the disease and find new treatments.
‘We also eagerly await the government’s response to the Women and Equalities Committee report that recommends amending the Employment Rights Bill to include those with endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions.’
Arguably, this research couldn’t have come at a better time. The latest statistics from the charity show endometriosis affects one in 10 women which equates to over 1.5 million in the UK and almost 200 million women globally.
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