This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Endometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.
More details
Many women seldom get the medical attention they require, or frequently have their symptoms miscalculated.
Due to personal experience, we are aware that the average time taken for a full diagnosis for endometriosis is 7 1/2 years in the UK.
A cure for these conditions has not yet been found.
It is important to us to start a conversation, to hopefully achieve funding to eventually find a cure for these conditions, or find more legitimate ways of treating symptoms.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 1 November 2021
Government responded
This response was given on 24 August 2020
The Government recognises the importance of research into endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The Government is funding a broad range of research through its funding organisations.
Read the response in full
The Government is aware of and sympathises with the hardships faced by women who experience severe symptoms from conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. While treatment is available, NHS England highlight that symptoms for both conditions vary widely, including in terms of severity. It is therefore important to seek clinical advice if women notice symptoms about which they have concern.
The Government funds medical research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI). In the last five financial years to 2019-20, the NIHR and UKRI have awarded £8.52m for research into endometriosis and £6.60m for research into polycystic ovary syndrome. This includes a wide range of projects from basic science through to applied health research into diagnosis, treatment and service delivery.
Examples of research includes: a project, hosted by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, examining what happens in primary care when women consult with endometriosis-like symptoms in order to start addressing delays in diagnosis and treatment and lead to improvement in care for women; and a randomised controlled trial exploring the use of two different treatment options for women with polycystic ovary syndrome whose eggs do not release from their ovaries to determine the most effect effective drug, or combination of drugs, needed to ensure women are offered the best available care with minimum side effects and spared the need for more invasive and costly fertility treatments. Other Government-funded research includes studies to investigate new therapeutics, the genetic basis for polycystic ovary syndrome, clinical prediction models of whether surgery will be successful for endometriosis, pain management trials and research to improve reproductive outcomes for women with these conditions.
The NIHR engages and involves patients, carers and the public in all the processes by which research is identified, prioritised, designed, conducted, evaluated and disseminated to improve the reach, quality and impact of the funded research. Women with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome play a vital role in the research identified above.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
To support women with endometriosis, all obstetricians and gynaecologists have been trained in the diagnosis, investigation and management of the condition, which is specifically listed as a topic in the core curriculum for obstetrics and gynaecology.
NHS England expects providers to adhere to NICE guidance regarding the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73. NHS England also recommends the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines on the management of women with endometriosis https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines/Endometriosis-guideline.aspx. The guidance offers best practice advice on the diagnosis and treatment of women with suspected endometriosis as well as the effectiveness of medically assisted reproduction for endometriosis-associated infertility. It also provides information on the management of patients in whom endometriosis is found incidentally (without pain or infertility).
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a multifaceted, polygenic condition that often starts in adolescence and may have lifelong effects - through reproductive years to post-menopause. While there is currently no “cure”, there are several options for treatment and ways that individuals can alter lifestyle to ameliorate symptoms. Those who are overweight tend to have worse symptoms and long-term consequences and are less likely to respond to treatment.
There are many effective treatments and a large body of research looking at evidence-based therapy - whether for symptoms of hyperandrogenism, menstrual cycle disturbance or infertility. There are a number of consensus papers outlining the best approach for investigation and management.
NHS England advise that the UK patient support organisation Verity provides resources for patients as does the Women’s Network pages of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ website.
Department of Health and Social Care
Related activity
Government launches public survey on a new Women's Health Strategy
The Government has launched a public survey, to help decide on what should be included in its new Women’s Health Strategy for England.
They want to hear from women of all ages and backgrounds about their healthcare experiences. This will help the Government consider possible changes to NHS services.
The survey is open to anyone aged 16 or over.
Share your experiences with the Government here, by 30 May:
https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/talkwomenshealth
Specifically, the Government wants to hear views on the following themes:
- Placing women’s voices at the centre of their health and care
- Improving the quality and accessibility of information and education on women’s health
- Ensuring the health and care system understands and is responsive to women’s health and care needs across the life course
- Maximising women’s health in the workplace
- Ensuring research, evidence and data support improvements in women’s health
- Understanding and responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on women’s health
Find out more about the Strategy, and the issues the Government wants to hear about in its survey, here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-call-for-evidence-to-improve-health-and-wellbeing-of-women-in-england
Read the full Call for Evidence here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence
What is the Women's Health Strategy?
The Government has promised to develop a new Women's Health Strategy. The Strategy will aim to improve the health and wellbeing of women across England, and ensure NHS services in England are meeting women's needs.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, health services are the responsibility of the devolved Governments, so the Strategy will only apply to England.
Who is running the consultation?
The consultation is being run by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Government Department responsible for the NHS and oversight of social care in England.
Find out more about DHSC:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Recent Parliamentary activity on Endometriosis
For Endometriosis Awareness Month, a summary of parliamentary activity on endometriosis since the issue was debated in Westminster Hall in 2019 has been published.
Read the summary: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/endometriosis/index.html
This ‘shorthand’ summary describes how the public’s voices were heard in the 2019 debate, and features the story of Kathryn from Cornwall. Since having her story read out in Parliament, she has gone on to be an advocate for those living with endometriosis and has made several appearances in local and national media.
The article covers other parliamentary activity on endometriosis since the debate, and gives details on how to submit evidence on the Government’s Women’s Health Strategy.
When will this petition be debated?
The Petitions Committee have agreed to schedule a debate on this petition. We'll let you know as soon as the date for the debate is confirmed.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.
Debate Postponed
Following the tragic death of Sir David Amess MP the planned business for the House of Commons on Monday 18th October, including the debate on this petition, will be rescheduled.
We'll update petitioners as soon as we're able to confirm the new date for this debate.
Find out more:
Women with endometriosis and PCOS share their experiences
Late last year, women with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome shared their experiences with MPs ahead of the debate in the House of Commons on this petition. Helen, Kate, Nikita and Caroline recorded interviews about what it was like to be diagnosed with the conditions and to seek treatment.
Find out about their experiences and watch the debate: https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/living-with-endometriosis-and-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-petitions/index.html?utm_source=committees.parliament.uk&utm_medium=referrals&utm_campaign=endometriosis-and-pco&utm_content=organic
About the petition
Over 101,000 people signed a petition last year calling on the Government to increase funding for research into endometriosis and PCOS. After the petition reached a 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee scheduled a debate on it in the House of Commons.
In the lead-up to the debate, which took place on 1 November, the Petitions Committee wanted to hear from people experiencing the conditions about how it affected them and why they supported the petition.
What is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that oversee petitions started on Parliament's petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons.
Find out more about the Committee on its website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions
The Petitions Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
MPs investigate women's reproductive health
A group of MPs called the Women and Equalities Committee are looking into women's menstrual and gynaecological health, to understand the challenges women face during diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health issues.
Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work for more information.
The Committee is considering:
• What constitutes healthy periods and reproductive health?
• What are women's experiences of being diagnosed with, undergoing procedures and being treated for gynaecological or urogynaecological conditions?
• What disparities exist in the treatment and diagnosis of gynaecological or urogynaecological conditions?
• What barriers exist in the treatment and diagnosis of gynaecological or urogyanecological conditions?
What happens next?
The Committee has conducted oral evidence sessions where it heard from experts in the sector as well as representatives from the Government.
An evidence session is a hearing where MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers, academics and/or campaigners, questions on a particular topic. These experts are called "witnesses" and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
The Committee is considering all the evidence it has taken and will publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.
For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's inquiry page.
What is the Women and Equalities Committee?
The Women and Equalities Committee examines the work of the Government Equalities Office (GEO). It holds the Government to account on equality law and policy, including the Equality Act 2010 and cross-Government activity on equalities. It also scrutinises the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- Find out more about the Committee on its website
- Follow the Committee on X (formerly Twitter) for updates on its work
The Women and Equalities Committee is a select committee.
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