Over 95% of UK women with endometriosis face disruptive heavy periods, impacting lives and careers

Over 1.5 million UK women are affected by endometriosis – now a new survey has uncovered the significant toll lesser-known symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) and fatigue take on their social, emotional, and professional lives.

Nine out of 10 (96%) UK women with endometriosis experience a decline in their quality of life due to debilitating heavy periods and fatigue, yet many never seek medical help, according to a new study from leading iron supplement specialist Active Iron.

A survey of 1,500 women and girls for Endometriosis Awareness Month found that problem periods are often dismissed as merely “part of being a woman”. This is despite many individuals experiencing severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and fatigue.

Nearly three-quarters of women diagnosed with endometriosis in the UK reported having heavy periods, leading to menstrual fatigue.

This fatigue affected 74% of surveyed women aged 16 to 55 who have the condition, with 59% describing the fatigue as ‘extreme’. As a result, 84% reported a noticeable difference in their ability to function normally during their period.

Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue resembling the lining of the womb develops around organs within the abdomen. It is characterised by pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, as well as chronic pelvic pain. Many women also experience secondary symptoms including heavy bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, and fatigue.

Despite this, on average, women wait 7.5 years for a diagnosis, and many with heavy menstrual bleeding avoid seeking medical help, thinking it’s normal.

Concerningly, the study revealed that symptoms like heavy periods and fatigue are not limited to women diagnosed with endometriosis.

Notably, 77% of those without endometriosis reported experiencing menstrual fatigue that impacted their daily lives, with 74% lacking the energy or motivation to do everyday tasks as a result.

This leaves many women facing serious physical, social, and emotional challenges due to debilitating symptoms. These issues not only harm their health but also disrupt important parts of their lives, such as work, relationships, and social activities.

More than a quarter of women (27%), irrespective of endometriosis diagnosis, reported being unable to work due to heavy menstrual bleeding and the accompanying fatigue. Approximately one in five (16%) had taken a sick day, while 34% had worked but experienced a decline in their performance.

Home life was similarly impacted, with 23% of all women surveyed saying that problem periods had negatively affected their relationship with their spouse or partner, almost a quarter (24%) avoiding staying overnight at a partner’s house, and 20% struggling to keep up with their children during their menstrual cycle.

As a result of heavy menstrual bleeding and fatigue, 50% of women felt antisocial and didn’t want to spend time with friends or family, leaving 55% feeling isolated and alone when dealing with tiredness from heavy periods. Emotionally, 50% described themselves as feeling unhappy, sad or depressed.

Dr Ria Clarke, registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology, and expert clinician for Active Iron, said: “It’s so important that we can dispel the misconceptions around heavy periods, fatigue and endometriosis, reduce unnecessary delays in diagnosis, and improve the quality of life for millions of women worldwide whose lives are being negatively impacted.

“This is particularly important when you consider that these conditions aren’t exclusive to diagnosed individuals, and 47% of UK women find their current methods for alleviating period-related fatigue ineffective.”

Claire Lynch, head of marketing for Active Iron, added: “With this survey and our campaign, we want to spark meaningful conversations and change the way we talk about endometriosis and heavy periods.

“As we enter Endometriosis Awareness Month, our aim is to shed light on the lesser-known impacts of the condition, like heavy periods and menstrual fatigue, breaking down the stigma around menstrual health and aiding women in better managing their symptoms.”

More than half of women surveyed had been given pain medication to treat endometriosis, while 45% were recommended contraception, and 32% have been prescribed other hormone therapies.

Active Iron’s survey found, however, that women find their current methods to relieve menstrual fatigue ineffective. Many had resorted to consuming more coffee or energy drinks (42%), sleeping more (52%), and doing less activities (48%) to manage tiredness caused by their menstrual cycle.

“Given that menstruation is the leading cause of iron loss worldwide, it’s important to understand the link between heavy periods, low iron levels and fatigue. Rather than covering up tiredness and fatigue with quick fixes, a daily iron supplement can help women address the energy loss associated with diminished iron levels, in turn achieving symptomatic relief and improving their quality of life,” added Dr Clarke.

Many iron supplements are poorly tolerated, leading to debilitating side effects like nausea, constipation and changed bowel habits. This causes women to discontinue them, reducing the chance of improving their iron stores and resulting energy levels.

In contrast, Active Iron is clinically proven to improve iron levels by 94%, whilst avoiding troublesome side effects, resulting in increased energy levels, and longer-term improvements in overall health.

Don’t accept menstrual fatigue, visit activeiron.com/uk to learn more.

Funding to support rape and domestic abuse victims

Scottish Government investment to fund vital services

Victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse will be able to access support quicker thanks to an additional £2 million of funding from the Scottish Government.

The funding will go to Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid so they can reduce their waiting lists for women who need support services, including refuge places and counselling. Last year, both organisations supported more than 27,000 women and girls, but demand for their services has grown.

The £2 million for 2024-25 is in addition to £19 million annual funding the Scottish Government provides to support women with experience of violence through our Delivering Equally Safe fund.  

Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said:  “Violence against women and girls is abhorrent and these frontline services provide much needed support to victims and survivors.

“We recognise the vital work that women’s aids and rape crisis centres do day in, day out to support women, girls and families. Demand for these services is increasing, which is why we are providing record funding, investing an additional £2 million to help with immediate need. This is in addition to funding received through our Delivering Equally Safe Fund.

“Alongside supporting those impacted, we are committed to tackling violence against women and girls, and addressing the underlying attitudes and systems that perpetuate it through our Equally Safe Strategy. It is this that needs to change to eradicate the violence too many experience.”

Rape Crisis Scotland Chief Executive Sandy Brindley said: “We are delighted that funding has been extended for 10 of our member centres who were facing the most significant issues with waiting lists.

“This funding will help Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland to continue to provide specialist support to survivors of sexual violence that can be truly lifesaving.  

“Demand for Rape Crisis support is ever-growing, and it is vital that when survivors reach out for support, they are able to receive it when they need it, not weeks or months later.” 

Scottish Women’s Aid Chief Executive Marsha Scott said: “This is such welcome news. In this time of rising costs and rising demand, Women’s Aid services in Scotland have never been stretched thinner, and children and women needing support should never have to sit on a waiting list.   

“We are grateful not only that the fund has been extended until the end of the next financial year but that the Scottish Government has responded to concerns about inflation and mounting pressure on staff who work so hard to provide sometimes life-saving services.” 

 The total grant value is £2,077,703 

  • Rape Crisis Scotland – £1,167,000 
  • Scottish Women’s Aid – £910,703 

Council ‘driving forward’ plans to tackle the impact of poverty on women and girls

A key factor in the bid to end poverty in the Capital by 2030 is the steps being taken by the Council and partners to prevent and mitigate the impacts on women.

The Impact of Poverty on Women and Girls report highlights that women show a higher risk of poverty, and deeper experience of poverty, than men across Scotland.

This is closely linked to child poverty, given there is a proportionately high share of caring responsibilities adopted by women in general – 90% of lone parents are women, 38% of those in Scotland live in poverty.

Women have also been disproportionately affected by the cost of living crisis and, alongside childcare, these patterns are strongly driven by gender inequalities in the workplace. Women account for 60% of all low paid workers in Edinburgh and 78% of all part time workers.

In response to these challenges, actions in the Council’s End Poverty in Edinburgh Delivery Plan, and other plans, which are expected to prevent or mitigate the impact of poverty on women and girls, include:

  • Raising awareness of the gender impacts of poverty
  • Helping to increase incomes for women in poverty
  • Reducing the costs and impact of childcare responsibilities

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Tackling poverty is one of our key priorities as a Council and our 2030 target is ambitious but one I’m convinced can be achieved. We have to act decisively if we’re to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh.

“It’s a fact that women are more likely to experience poverty and thus it was important that we had a separate update on specific actions being taken to help to further highlight this issue.

“It’s also of course not just the material constraints of living in poverty that make things hard, it’s the emotional strain and it is important that we do all we can to tackle this.

“This update on actions currently underway was well received by councillors who fully support the work of the End Poverty in Edinburgh Delivery Plan which gives an important overview of where we are. We know that we can’t achieve our goals in insolation.

“That’s why we are working with partners such as the End Poverty Edinburgh citizen’s group who help us make sure that the real experiences of people who live in poverty are at the centre of shaping the actions we take to tackle poverty and inequality in the capital city.

“Analysis of these actions will be continued, and I look forward to the update on the wider End Poverty in Edinburgh progress later in the year where will look at all households and priority groups.”

NO Poverty concerns for one new council employee. Edinburgh’s interim Director of Adult Social Care will be paid no less than £403,390 A YEAR!

I’m sure that will go down really well with the capital’s care workers, the majority of whom are women! – Ed.

Misogyny law consultation

Proposals to criminalise abusive and humiliating behaviour routinely directed at women and girls

Misogynistic harassment could become a criminal offence as part of proposals aimed at providing greater protection for women and girls in Scotland.

A consultation has been launched on the draft reforms, which would create five new laws to provide police and prosecutors with new powers to tackle the corrosive effects of misogyny.

The proposals are based on the recommendations made by the Working Group on Misogyny led by Baroness Kennedy. This concluded that the harmful effects of misogyny meant women and girls required new  protection through the criminal law.

Under the proposals, the scope of how current laws tackle misogynistic abuse would be expanded to include threatening, abusive or sexual behaviour directed towards women or girls – because of their gender– which is likely to cause them to feel degradation, humiliation or distress.

It would also be used to tackle situations where women or girls are subjected to threatening or abusive messages about rape, sexual assault or disfigurement – either in person, or online.

Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “Baroness Kennedy’s report was stark in its assessment of the level of misogyny that exists in Scotland. Women and girls are routinely humiliated, touched, groped, undermined, trolled and objectified both online and off, and subjected to threats, harassment and abuse about their looks or desirability – stopping them from fully participating in society.

“Although there are already a range of laws that can be used to prosecute aspects of misogynistic harassment and abuse, these do not accurately identify the particular harm caused by misogyny. They also fail to adequately respond to problems faced by women, which is why we are consulting on further criminal reforms. 

“And while criminal law reform alone cannot be expected to eliminate misogynistic abuse, or the attitudes which perpetuate it, these specific criminal protections are an important step in challenging society’s – and particularly men’s – tolerance of misogyny. I encourage everyone with an interest to consider what is proposed and offer their views.”

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC said: “ I strongly encourage as many women as possible to participate in this consultation.

“For too long the law has not been drawn from the experience of women. It is time to hear from girls and women about what they think should be included in law so that they can be treated as equals and live free from abuse and denigration.” 

The consultation will run from 8 March to 2 June 2023. 

Take part in the consultation. 

The five new proposed criminal laws are:

  • An offence of misogynistic harassment. This would make it a criminal offence for a person to behave in a way that amounts to misogynistic harassment directed at a woman or girl or group of women and girls.
  • An offence of misogynistic behaviour. Intended to deal with misogynistic behaviour which is likely to have the effecting of causing a woman or girl to experience fear, alarm, degradation, humiliation or distress where that behaviour is not directed at a specific woman or girl (or group of women and girls) and so could not be described as ‘harassment’.
  • A statutory aggravation concerning misogyny. This would be used where an offence had a misogynistic motive or a person demonstrates misogyny whilst committing a crime. The statutory aggravation would ensure that this motive is recorded and taken into account when sentencing.
  • An offence of threatening or abusive communications to women or girls that reference rape, sexual assault or disfigurement. This offence criminalises sending an abusive message to a woman or girl that refers to rape, sexual assault or disfigurement
  • An offence of stirring up hatred against women and girls. This offence is concerned with the effect that the behaviour may be likely to have on the people in whom the perpetrator is seeking to stir up hatred of women and girls.

Gender Equality and Climate Change: leaders sign joint statement at COP26

A statement calling for the role of women and girls to be advanced in addressing climate change has been launched at COP26, jointly-sponsored by the Scottish Government and UN Women.

The Glasgow Women’s Leadership Statement on Gender Equality and Climate Change commits to further strengthening efforts to support women and girls to lead on addressing climate change at community, national, and international level.

It recognises that women and girls are often disproportionately affected by climate change and face greater risks and burdens from its impacts, particularly in situations of poverty. 

Drafted in cooperation with UN Women, the statement was launched following a panel discussion convened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, which included Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas.

The statement will remain open for signatures from today until the 66th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, to be held in March 2022 with a focus on women’s empowerment in the context of climate change, the environment and disaster risk reduction.

The panel discussed gendered impacts of climate change and the importance of women and girls’ leadership in addressing these.

The First Minister said: “I am delighted to convene the Glasgow Women’s Leadership Initiative with UN Women, to put gender equality and climate change at the very forefront of COP26.

“One of the great injustices of the climate crisis is that the people and countries who are worst affected are those who have contributed least to its causes. That includes women and girls, with girls more likely to be taken out of school, and women less able to find alternative forms of work as a result of climate impacts.

“The Glasgow statement recognises that the leadership of women and girls is essential to ensure global efforts to tackle climate change succeed. With strong partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society we can enable more women and girls to lead on the solutions we need to address climate impacts and promote gender equality.

“I am determined that Scotland will lead on progressing this at home and internationally where we can, and I call on all leaders to join me in signing up to the statement.”

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said: “We can only achieve our collective goal and responsibility of reducing emissions to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius if women and girls are part of the response.

“Today’s statement is a powerful tool in sustaining the growing momentum of women’s and girls’ leadership and innovation in climate action. I call on women leaders to make concrete commitments by signing it.”

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas said: “Empowerment of women and girls is a priority for Estonia also in our UN work. We need to recognize at the highest political level that especially in fragile and conflict-affected settings women and girls are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.”

Glasgow Women’s Leadership Statement on Gender Equality and Climate Change – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

New fund to support survivors of gender-based violence

More than 120 projects across Scotland will share £38 million to support survivors of gender-based violence and focus on prevention.

The Delivering Equally Safe Fund (DES) is a new two-year funding programme to support third sector organisations and public bodies contribute to the objectives, priorities, and outcomes of the Equally Safe strategy.

The Fund includes more than £28 million for frontline services which provide direct support to women and girls, prioritising services that maximise their safety and wellbeing.

The two-year fund has also been increased by an additional £1 million per year to support projects which focus on early intervention and preventative measures.

Funding will be distributed to 121 projects, including Respect, which provides helpline services for perpetrators of domestic abuse, Kingdom Abuse Survivors project and Moray Women’s Aid.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Violence against women and girls is appalling and unacceptable which is why we are funding organisations that are tackling the issue head on, including frontline services that support survivors and get to the root of abusive behaviour.

“These organisations are offering new and innovative ways to aid recovery, encourage education, and increase prevention awareness.

“I am also pleased that we have been able to increase our funding by more than £1 million a year more than our original fund to increase our support to these important initiatives.

“I look forward to seeing the  results of the important the work that Equally Safe Fund will deliver.”

Melanie Wood, from Moray Women’s Aid said: “We are delighted to receive funding through the Delivering Equally Safe fund. It will allow us to continue to deliver essential services to vulnerable women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse when they most needed it. 

“The funding will support the work of our Community Outreach Project and the Children and Young Person’s Service.”

Starts Friday: FREE swimming session for women and girls at Craigie

Starting this Friday: FREE swimming sessions for women & girls at Craigroyston High School!

All swimming abilities & all ages from P6 up welcome. All places MUST be booked in advance – book online here: https://www.joininedinburgh.org/activity/17585/

Calling on Edinburgh residents to join the conversation on gender inequality within female caring roles

The First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG) is reaching out to Edinburgh residents to participate in the national conversation surrounding gender inequality.

NACWG would like to encourage the local community to share their views and experiences of the subject within caring roles.  Continue reading Calling on Edinburgh residents to join the conversation on gender inequality within female caring roles

Share your views and experiences of gender inequality in sport

The First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG) is calling on residents from Edinburgh to share their views and experiences of gender inequality in sport.

The Advisory Council use these insights to help develop recommendations for its annual report to the First Minister to drive forward gender equality in Scotland. Continue reading Share your views and experiences of gender inequality in sport

MSPs seek views on anti-Female Genital Mutilation plans

The Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee is starting its detailed scrutiny of plans to enhance protections for women and girls who have suffered or who are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM). Continue reading MSPs seek views on anti-Female Genital Mutilation plans