Endometriosis Awareness Month – a guide for staff and employers

It’s estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis. But despite this, the majority of people in the UK don’t know what endometriosis is (54% of women and 74% of men).

Endometriosis can have a devastating impact on a woman’s career or education, relationships, mental health, and daily life. There have also been very rare cases of endometriosis in men, but they can also occur in transgender men and non-binary individuals. That’s why Endometriosis Awareness Month is so important – as it has the potential to affect a large group of people.

Discover what endometriosis is, how it impacts lives, and what can be done to raise awareness.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a long-term condition, which causes tissue (similar to the lining of the womb) to grow in other places such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

There’s a real lack of awareness about what endometriosis is, which leads to an increased diagnosis time, currently sitting at around 7-10 years. This is also due to the complications of overlapping symptoms of other health conditions and diagnostic limitations. As currently, the only way to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery.

• Symptoms of endometriosis

• Pain in your lower tummy or back

• Difficulty getting pregnant

• Pain during or after sex

• Pain when peeing or pooing during your period

• Dysmenorrhoea (painful periods)

• Heavy periods

Some women find that endometriosis can have a huge impact on life, which may also lead to depression or other mental health issues.

What causes endometriosis?

Sadly, we still don’t know the exact cause of endometriosis. According to Endometriosis UK, it is suspected that some or a combination of the following could be contributing factors (but are yet to be fully researched):

• Retrograde menstruation (where menstrual blood flows back into the pelvic cavity)

• Genetic predisposition

• Immune system dysfunction

• Metaplasia (where a cell changes into a different one)

When is endometriosis awareness month?

Endometriosis Awareness Month occurs annually in March. The annual event is designed to raise awareness of the debilitating condition around the world. March 2022- and 2024 saw the awareness month celebrated as “Endometriosis Action Month”, which focused on driving change through public campaigns and virtual events, as well as driving improvements in care and support.

Treatments for endometriosis

There isn’t currently a cure for endometriosis. But there are treatments available that can help with the symptoms. The type of treatment received will depend on several factors and tends to be unique to the individual.

• Treatments include:

• Hormone treatments

• Heat therapy

• Pain relief – such as NSAIDs

• Surgery to remove lesions and/or cysts

• A hysterectomy (the removal of the womb - in extreme cases)

Support for those living with endometriosis

Living with a long-term, painful condition can be extremely challenging. You might experience excruciating pain at times, struggle to conceive or dread your period each month and all of this can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing.

While there might not be a cure for Endometriosis just yet, there are things you can do to support yourself when times are tough.

Counselling support

When going through a really difficult time, it can be helpful to have a safe space to turn to where you can share your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. Seeing a counsellor allows you to offload some of these emotions, meaning you don’t bottle up how you feel.

This release can help you make sense of any challenges you might be facing. You can discuss your options, vent your frustrations and understand yourself a little better.

Remember that if you have an Employee Assistance Programme with HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, you can arrange this at any time via the helpline.

Visit a support group

Endometriosis UK has support groups across the country that you can visit. On their website, you can find your local group and the kinds of meetings and activities that they have planned.

Many of these groups also have private Facebook groups and mailing lists so you can stay connected with others who are going through the same thing.

There is also a helpline and web chat available for anyone who might be struggling with endometriosis.

Finding things that help

The pain of endometriosis can be extremely difficult to cope with at times. Many people try out different remedies till they find one that works for them. These can include:

• A hot water bottle

• A hot bath

• Ibuprofen

• Light exercise

It’s not easy living with a chronic health condition. But learning about the condition, connecting with others, and self-care can help.

How employers can support their people with endometriosis

Whether you’re a business owner or HR professional, you must recognise and practice your duty of care under the Equality Act 2010 for individuals with endometriosis – especially if considered a disability.

Besides providing adjustments, it’s important to learn more about the condition and how it can affect workplace performance. Just because someone may have the condition, doesn’t make them any less capable of an employee. Instead, the individual must have the support systems in place to help them perform their duties while they manage their symptoms.

Some ways you can support individuals with the condition include providing:

• Frequent resting periods and/or additional breaks

• Flexible working such as adjusted hours or work-from-home days

• Changes to the physical workspace

• Flexibility for making appointments

Refusing to make reasonable adjustments or creating working conditions that unreasonably prevent an employee from working due to their endometriosis can be considered a form of discrimination.

How can an Employee Assistance Programme help?

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), can help individuals who have endometriosis (as well as those caring for someone with the condition), by providing in-the-moment mental health support from a qualified counsellor. At HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, we can provide solution-focused brief therapy – a type of goal-oriented therapy for those that require immediate support with a mental health concern. In the case of endometriosis, our counsellors can provide support (if deemed clinically appropriate) through unique framework for individuals to focus on their strengths and desired future to cope with the challenges that come with having the condition.

Remember, if you've got an Employee Assistance with HA | Wisdom Wellbeing, you can access our free 24-hour counselling and medical support line at any time. And if you’re a business seeking additional support for mental health-related absences or otherwise, contact us to discover how our EAP can provide support for you and your people.