Drive to boost endometriosis care in Scotland

A campaign is being launched this week to improve the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, a painful disease linked to infertility.

Medical experts will raise awareness of the condition, which affects one in ten Scottish women of childbearing age, at an event at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

Representatives from Endometriosis UK, Edinburgh University and patients will make the case for the development of at least four specialist treatment centres.

The disease causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow elsewhere in the body, such as the pelvis, ovaries and bladder. The growths can cause inflammation and severe pain, and lead to infertility in up to 40% of those affected.

Campaigners say that women in Scotland wait an average of seven years before they are diagnosed correctly and current treatments often prove ineffective in the long-term and can cause unpleasant side effects.

The awareness event hosted by Aileen McLeod MSP will feature talks from experts, patients and politicians.

Dr Andrew Horne, consultant gynaecologist at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health in Edinburgh, said: “It is fantastic that the Scottish Government are listening to medical practitioners, researchers and sufferers of endometriosis.

“We hope that we will all be able to work together to raise awareness of the condition and support the development of specialist centres in Scotland.”