A woman has shared how difficult it was for her to be diagnosed and treated for endometriosis after a damning report revealed the lack of care coordination for the condition.
Siobhan Kennett suffered with symptoms of endometriosis for years before she began the long process of receiving a diagnosis and treatment.
Now, she has become an ambassador for an endometriosis charity which helped her and is sharing her story.
It comes after a newly published report says half of the women suffering with endometriosis have to make more than 10 visits to their GP in order to get the right diagnosis.
Ms Kennett, who is from Rochdale, said: “I went to see my local GPs countless times over the last few years, complaining repeatedly about extreme tiredness, constipation, irregular periods, and unexplained vaginal bleeding. At some points I was even ringing the surgery once a week, asking for an appointment because my symptoms had become that chronic.
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“It took two separate occasions and seeing two different female GPs, with four months between those appointments, for me to be even sent for my first investigative internal ultrasound, which indicated endo cysts on my ovaries.
“Then I had to wait a further 11 months to see an NHS community gynaecologist, who then proceeded to tell me I was in for another 18–24-month delay to receive surgery on the NHS.”
Ms Kennett, 32, has now become an ambassador for Endometriosis Awareness North (EAN), which was co-founded by Oldham GP Dr Anita Sharma.
Speaking about the recently released report, Dr Sharma said: “The newly published 'Long and Painful Road' has sadly confirmed what we are hearing from thousands of women.
“Members of my profession too often see one symptom of endo and treat it there and then, rather than refer to case notes and notice a pattern. Some medics even see it as just a normal part of being a woman and this makes females reluctant to see their GP.
“Delays in diagnosis can mean that women don’t have access to treatment or management options, or considerations of potential impacts on fertility.”
The findings of the Long and Painful Road revealed a lack of care coordination when dealing with endometriosis, which affects one in 10 women.
The EAN campaign looks to raise awareness about the condition and the lack of care provided to women who suffer from it.
Dr Sharma said: “It comes to something when a small group of people have to give of their own time to raise awareness of this mendacious condition.
“Where is the national campaign to help women and their families? The resource devoted to research? Or indeed the training programme that makes medics more aware of symptoms and treatment?
“Raising awareness, improving referral and early management are the mission statements of EAN and we will continue to run our regular educational sessions for GPs and the public.”
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